April 19, 2013

Following a couple weeks of below normal, wet conditions, State Climatologist Al Dutcher says there's another chance for 0.1-0.5 inch of rain Monday, followed by warmer, drier conditions April 23-29. Next week temperatues will climb into  the 50s to 60s with the possibility of scattered light rains.

Overall, it should be the first real opportunity for widespread planting this spring. 

Dutcher says many areas of the state are now showing moisture down to 2 feet. Depending on the soil, it often takes several days after a rain for moisture to move down in the profile.

Get daily updates of precipitation and soil temperatues — taken at 4 inches below the soil surface at midnight — on CropWatch.unl.eduweather.  As the season progresses watch for daily GDD and Et updates for multiple sites across the state.