Big Change to Weather Pattern Starting This Weekend

In the Midwest, lake-effect snow was heavy early this week, leading to some rather hefty totals. A small clipper moved across the Great Lakes with some isolated showers as well. But much of the region was dry this week. A front will move through this weekend with some isolated showers. But the region will await the development of a system next week that is likely to bring about more widespread rainfall that could be heavy.

In the Northern Plains, a few isolated showers moved through with a clipper early this week, but it was dry for most areas. A front will move through Friday and Saturday with more isolated showers, but the region may see more widespread precipitation next week with a pair of systems likely to move through. Though precipitation may be heavier to the south, there could still be some substantial amounts in parts of the region.

In the Central and Southern Plains, it was dry this week as temperatures rose. A system in the West will move into the region on Monday, but the prospect for showers has decreased since earlier this week. However, another system is forecast for the middle and end of next week that looks more substantial. The weather pattern will favor more systems moving through the region for the rest of November, which should help with the increasing drought in the region.

In the Delta, it was dry this week and water levels continue to be low on the Mississippi River. Dry conditions are expected through the weekend. A weaker system is forecast to move through early next week with some showers, but a bigger one with more widespread and perhaps heavy rain is forecast for later in the week. That may help with the ongoing drought across the region and also boost water levels on the Mississippi River.

In the Southeast, it was rather dry this week and continues to be into early next week as well. The region may catch a few showers around midweek with a weak system moving through, but is more likely to cash in later in the week with a more developed system that is being forecast. Increases in precipitation are needed to combat the ongoing drought.

In the Western U.S., it was rather dry this week, but a two-part system started to move into the region on Thursday. The northern half will bring showers through the weekend while the southern half sits around California and the Southwest. That should bring through heavy precipitation that may cause flooding. This will be the start to a more active pattern as another system gets into the region early next week and another is forecast for the middle-to-end of next week. All of these systems will be bringing through widespread precipitation that should help to ease drought issues that are widespread across the region.

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