A Couple More Bands of Snow Across the North

In the Midwest, a pair of clippers moved through this week with bands of snow. The second system also produced some rain across the south that was moderate in some locations. Two more bands of snow will move through Thursday through Saturday from Iowa to the Ohio Valley. Light snow will fall farther north, except for lake-effect snow that will continue through the weekend. Drier conditions are likely next week, though systems moving through Canada could still bring some limited showers. With warmer air moving in, we should see some snow melt to allow snowpack into the soil column and improve soil moisture.

In the Northern Plains, clippers have been moving through all week with areas of showers, including some rain and freezing rain where it has been a little warmer. Two more systems are pushing through the region through Saturday with areas of mixed precipitation on Thursday turning to snow for Friday and Saturday. Some heavy snow will be possible in Montana that will be helpful for the drought there. The storm track will move north into Canada next week, but we could see fronts produce some limited showers at times.

In the Central and Southern Plains, it has been largely dry this week with only spots in Nebraska getting some limited showers as systems pass by to the north. Two more will do so to end the week. Very little precipitation is forecast and southern drought areas may be expanding as temperatures rise next week.

In the Delta, the storm track to the north has left the region dry this week. Some showers may move through with a strong cold front on Saturday, but drier conditions prevail. Moisture moving northward next week may spark a few showers, but they are forecast to be spotty and light. Drought in the region may expand, especially across the north.

In the Southeast, after showers left on Monday, it has been dry this week. Drier conditions are likely to continue, though a few spotty showers may move through this weekend as a strong front moves through. Drought areas across the south got some help from last week’s rainfall, but drier conditions going forward could cause drought to expand.

In the Western U.S., the storm track across the north brought consistent, heavy precipitation this week. That briefly lifts northward for the weekend, but returns next week. Some atmospheric river events may bring heavy precipitation through some of the region, which would help with drought and increase snowpack in the mountains. Farther south, the region continues to trend drier through next week, with the reduced drought likely expanding again.

John Baranick can be reached at john.baranick@dtn.com