Storms move through Midwest crop belt

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Storms moved across the U.S. Midwest in the past day, bringing scattered showers for the developing corn and soybean crops, a forecaster said on Tuesday.

"This pattern with no persistent heat and steady rainfall is nearly ideal for corn pollination to finish up and flowering soybeans as they move into pod setting and pod filling," said Mike Palmerino, DTN Meteorlogix forecaster.

The mild summer has helped both crops recover from a shaky start in June, when the Midwest was hit by the worst flooding in 15 years.

From 0.1 to 1.0 inch of rain fell across the Corn Belt on Monday. The showers favored Iowa and the northern tiers of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.

Temperatures were above normal as highs climbed into the mid 80s to mid 90s degrees Fahrenheit.

Episodes of scattered showers will be featured this week.

The eastern Midwest was expected to get 0.25 to 1.0 inch over the next two days, while the western belt will receive similar amounts on Wednesday.

Showers redevelop on Sunday and continue into Monday.

Temperatures will remain above normal, with highs in the mid 80s to low 90s F through Thursday in the east and Friday in the west. Then it turns cooler by the weekend, with highs only reaching the upper 70s to mid 80s F.

Meteorlogix's Midwest forecast for Sunday to Thursday called for normal to below normal temperatures and normal to above normal rain.

(Reporting by Christine Stebbins; Editing by Walter Bagley)