Clipper Systems Moving Through US This Week

In the Midwest, widespread showers fell across the region over the weekend. Monday starts dry but a clipper system will move through on Tuesday and Wednesday and will be followed by another for Thursday and Friday. Showers may even linger into Saturday. And another clipper will move through Sunday and Monday. Though multiple systems will move through, precipitation amounts should be limited for most areas. Some areas near the Great Lakes could see some enhancement, though. Drought remains an issue for much of the region.

In the Northern Plains, more spotty showers moved through over the weekend, but most areas stayed rather dry. Several clippers will move through this week, but their precipitation impacts will largely be over the far east. With much of the region left barren, strong winds and warm temperatures could steal some topsoil moisture.

In the Central and Southern Plains, a burst of snow fell in the southwestern Plains on Friday, with some areas seeing close to a foot of snow. Warm temperatures this week will melt the snow and add it to the soil column. That in combination with rain from late last week should have been beneficial for drought in much of the region. Clippers moving off to the northeast could bring through a few showers, but most areas will stay dry this week.

In the Delta, a pair of systems brought scattered showers through the region late last week, which included some beneficial rain that eased drought in some areas, and will keep it from growing for others. However, very limited to no precipitation is in the forecast this week, as most of the clipper systems will bring showers through the Midwest. Water levels on the Mississippi River are getting a boost from last week’s rainfall, but need much more to reverse the dry trend.

In the Southeast, a system Friday and Saturday brought through some areas of heavy rain, which will ease drought in parts of the region on this week’s Drought Monitor. However, the far Southeast saw very little rainfall and drought should be expanding there. Some showers are in the forecast this week and northern areas may deal with a touch of snow at times from a few clippers that will be moving through. Precipitation should be awfully limited, however.

In the Western U.S., a system moved out of the region on Friday and dry conditions were noted over the weekend. The storm track is well to the north and east this week, resulting in very little opportunity for any precipitation going into next week. The momentum is turning to drought building and warm temperatures may melt some of the snowpack in the area this week.