AMES, I.A.(WNAX)- Outlooks for the coming months continue to indicate drier and warmer conditions, with expanding drought over much of the northern plains.

Dennis Todey, head of the Midwest Climate Hub in Ames Iowa, says there are already stress on crops.

Todey says the driest areas so far are on the western edge of the corn belt.

Todey says there is a big contrast across the Midwest crop areas.

Much of South Dakota and Nebraska has seen less than half of normal snowfall for the winter.