🌱 US Weather Warriors GrowCast — Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Heavy-rain potential and elevated thunderstorms make Wednesday a poor day for field and garden work.
Today's Weather Snapshot: Delmarva temperatures range from 70-89°F inland, cooler along the coast. Thunderstorm chances run 62-84%, with excessive-rainfall concern. Winds stay manageable near 7-13 mph. Early humidity is high, with DEOS readings from 93-99.98%.
Soil & Recent Rainfall: Two-inch soil temperatures range from 72.2-79.4°F. The highest DEOS 24-hour rainfall total was 0.07 inch. Dry topsoil is reported at DDFS and DLAU; no wet-topsoil stations reported.
Best Outdoor Work Window: Skip today — thunderstorms and poor soil workability limit reliable outdoor work.
Planting & Transplanting: Delay planting and tender transplants until the weather trend improves. Soil temperatures are warm enough for warm-season crops, but rain and poor workability are the limiting factors.
Watering & Irrigation: Hold off on watering until the rain trend passes; soils may already be wet. Despite only 0.07 inch of measured rain, widespread 62-84% rain chances favor waiting.
For Gardeners: Harvest ripe tomatoes, peppers, squash, and other warm-season crops before storms arrive. Keep cool-season vegetables shaded where practical to reduce heat-related quality loss. Avoid mowing lawns or working beds where the ground turns soft.
For Farmers & Growers: Keep equipment off fields where traffic could rut or compact wet ground. Defer hay cutting and nonessential spray work with elevated thunderstorm risk. Use the manageable wind only if storm timing leaves a safe, dry interval.
Looking Ahead (6-10 day signal): The 6-10 day outlook favors above-normal temperatures and precipitation, with no drought indicated in Delaware, Maryland, or Virginia.
Bottom Line: Wednesday is a rain-and-thunderstorm day: protect soils, pause planting, and hold irrigation.
— US Weather Warriors #DelmarvaWeather #GardenWeather #FarmWeather