USDA Weather: Heavy Midwest Rainfall and Southwest Floods Threaten U.S. Fieldwork

Heavy rainfall and flash-flood threats are affecting U.S. agriculture on September 16, 2026, as farmers move deeper into harvest and winter wheat planting.

Agricultural weather assessment from USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey indicates that tropical moisture is raising flood risks in the Southwest while showers slow fieldwork in portions of the Corn Belt and persistent heat dominates parts of the South and southern Plains.

The timing matters because corn and other summer crops are rapidly maturing, spring wheat harvest is nearly finished, and winter wheat seeding is underway. In the West, a small low-pressure system has generated widespread showers across the Four Corners States, with additional rainfall through the weekend potentially exceeding 1 to 3 inches or more.

The potential for flash floods and debris flows remains high in the Southwest, particularly on burn-scarred hillsides. Conversely, Pacific Coast States are experiencing generally cool and mostly dry conditions, limiting weather disruptions to agricultural operations.