By Scout Nelson
The weather across Minnesota in April has generally supported agricultural activity, especially in southern regions. While the northern parts of the state reported cooler-than-average temperatures and lower precipitation in early April, southern regions experienced near-normal temperatures with above-normal rainfall.
Forecasts for the rest of April suggest warmer conditions and more chances for rainfall across the state. This shift is expected to help balance the month’s climate to be warmer and wetter than average in most areas.
Shallow soil temperatures at a 4-inch depth have risen to the upper 40s to low 50s°F. Over 70% of Minnesota has adequate surplus topsoil moisture, according to USDA reports. As a result, farmers have been actively planting oats, wheat, and corn. With daytime highs reaching the 60s and 70s°F, planting is progressing rapidly whenever rain breaks allow fieldwork.
Despite the positive developments, drought conditions still affect nearly 47% of Minnesota’s landscape. Continued precipitation is essential to help mitigate the drought’s lingering effects.
“Rainfall this month on mostly thawed Minnesota soils and the associated soil moisture recharge will redistribute throughout the upper layers of soil by both capillary flow and gravity flow,” according to experts. This process helps store water deeper in the soil for future use by crops.
Elsewhere in the weather world, Alaska is experiencing significant glacier loss, with nearly 9% disappearing from 2000 to 2023. Cyclone Errol is approaching Australia with strong winds and high waves. Meanwhile, snowfall remains common in the northern Rockies and the Black Hills during April, with Minnesota occasionally seeing heavy snow—up to 50.8 inches in Duluth back in 2013.
These mixed weather events reflect the variability of spring and its effects on agriculture and water systems.
Photo Credit:gettyimages-zhuda
Categories: Minnesota, Crops, Corn, Wheat, Weather