Wet weather that delayed fall harvest may be here to stay.
Both are attributed to the near-record strong El Niño, that pulls tropical moisture over the Pacific Ocean toward the Plains states. The weather pattern has an 83% chance of staying in place this winter, according to the forecast released by the Climate Prediction Center Oct. 15.
“The wetness could delay mid- to late-season harvest efforts but should ultimately benefit rangeland, pastures and winter wheat, as well as provide favorable moisture reserves for the start of the 2027 growing season,” said Brad Rippey, chief meteorologist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of the Chief Economist in Washington, D.C.
Along with the winter wetness, general warmth is expected. However, not all winter days will be mild. There still could be significant cold outbreaks, but sustained periods of extremely cold weather will be unlikely, Rippey said. A mild winter should lead to less winterkill in wheat than farmers saw in the 2025-26 season, but it could result in higher insect and pest populations if freezes do not penetrate deep into the soil.
Click here to see more...