290: Why This “March Madness” Weather Could Be Setting Us Up for a Tough Summer

Gary is back, and this week’s conversation is all about the absolute roller coaster the weather has been on lately. From single digits to near 90 degrees in a matter of days, he breaks down what’s actually driving these swings and why this isn’t just “normal March weather.” They dig into drought concerns across Nebraska and the Plains, what Gary is seeing on his dashboard for rainfall over the next few months, and why producers should already be thinking ahead to potential stress this summer.Links Weather 20/20 Dashboard Discount⁠ - https://www.weather2020.com/partner/cattle-usaSubstack - https://weather2020.substack.com/The Global Predictor App ⁠- ⁠https://www.weather2020.com/global-predictor-mobile-appYoutube⁠ -https://www.youtube.com/@Weather2020Follow Gary on X ⁠- https://x.com/glezak CattleUSA Insurance - https://info.cattleusainsurance.com/l/1102253/2025-06-04/288f5m⁠CattleUSA Website - https://www.cattleusa.com/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cattleusamediaInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/cattleusa.media/Subscribe to our newsletter - https://www.cattleusadrive.com/premiumCattleUSA Media - https://www.cattleusamedia.com/Lauren’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_laurenmoylan/Lauren’s Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ShowboatmediacoThe Next Generation Podcast Website - https://www.thenextgenag.com/ Key Takeaways• Extreme temperature swings across the U.S. are being driven by a strong “anti-cyclone” pattern• This current heat is unusually strong for March and resembles summer-like conditions• A potential frost or freeze risk could return in April despite current warm weather• Drought concerns are highest across Nebraska and parts of Colorado• Kansas has a better outlook, with some areas expected to receive near-average rainfall• Nebraska may only receive 50–90% of normal rainfall, raising drought concerns• Drought conditions are likely expanding rather than shrinking in the short term• Early snowmelt in the Rockies could worsen water supply issues• Severe weather risks are expected to continue, with larger outbreaks likely in May• A major summer heat wave is most likely to hit in AugustChapters00:00 Introduction and March weather madness01:15 Breaking down extreme temperature swings03:30 What’s causing this unusual weather pattern06:00 Heat wave conditions and what they mean08:30 Drought concerns across Nebraska and the Plains12:00 Rainfall outlook for Kansas vs. Nebraska13:30 Is the drought expanding or shrinking?15:00 Severe weather outlook and timing16:30 Summer heat wave expectations17:30 Closing thoughts and Brazil trip previewweather patterns agriculture, drought outlook 2026, Nebraska drought update, Kansas rainfall forecast, extreme weather Midwest, severe weather outlook, farming weather risks, cattle producer weather planning, heat wave forecast summer, Weather 2020 dashboard, agriculture weather trends, CattleUSA Daily Podcast