🌱 US Weather Warriors GrowCast — 2026-05-17
Heat builds fast today, but poor soil workability and thunderstorm risk keep field decisions conservative.
Today's Weather Snapshot: Delmarva runs from 61-68°F overnight to 78-94°F this afternoon. Heat is the main story, with thunderstorms still possible. Winds are mostly 10-18 mph, strongest near the coast. Humidity is running about 67-76% at DEOS stations.
Soil & Recent Rainfall: 2-inch soil temperatures run 61.0-70.6°F, averaging 64.4°F. 24-hour rainfall at the DEOS stations is 0.0 inch. Soil workability remains poor.
Best Outdoor Work Window: Skip today — poor soil workability and elevated thunderstorm risk dominate.
Planting & Transplanting: Soil at 2 inches is warm enough at 61.0-70.6°F, but the planting window is delayed. Do not set tomatoes, peppers, or squash today. Cool-season direct seeding is also held back by poor field conditions.
Watering & Irrigation: With 0.0 inch in the last 24 hours, 10-24% PoPs, and no drought, hold off on watering today. The short-range pattern still favors waiting on irrigation.
For Gardeners: Harvest lettuce, spinach, peas, and brassicas early before heat trims quality. Keep tomato, pepper, and squash transplants in pots for now. Watch container plants and tender ornamentals for afternoon heat stress.
For Farmers & Growers: Field access is the limiter today, so avoid traffic on soft ground. Wind near 10-18 mph and elevated thunderstorm risk narrow spray windows. Use the day for equipment checks, planning, and harvest timing rather than planting or cultivation.
Looking Ahead (6-10 day signal): CPC leans above normal for both temperature and precipitation in days 6-10, while drought remains absent across DE, MD, and VA.
Bottom Line: This is a delay day for planting and irrigation, with heat, poor soil workability, and thunderstorm risk leading the agenda.
— US Weather Warriors #DelmarvaWeather #GardenWeather #FarmWeather