Front Pushing Through US This Weekend

In the Midwest, a front stalled out in the region this week and showers formed over northern areas throughout the week. Another system moving through the Northern Plains is producing showers into northwestern areas for Thursday and Friday. The front to the system will push across the region this weekend and that could produce a line or two of strong thunderstorms and potential for heavy rain. That would help with the ongoing drought, which has been increasing over a large portion of the region. Another system is likely to move through next week, but with uncertain rainfall development.

In the Northern Plains, periods of showers have moved through this week as a couple of systems have moved through. One continues to move through to end the week and could produce some beneficial rainfall for some of the drier areas scattered around the region. Another system will move through early next week with some showers as well.

In the Central and Southern Plains, isolated showers have developed across the region throughout the week. That continues into Saturday with a front slowly pushing through the region. A few areas of heavier showers will be possible, especially in eastern Oklahoma on Saturday. But other areas may be left out. Some spotty dryness has been occurring lately, especially across parts of Texas and the lack of rainfall will be concerning there. Another front will sweep through early next week, but models have backed off on much rainfall potential with it.

In the Delta, it was dry this week and water levels have been falling on the Mississippi River again. A front will move through on Saturday and could produce areas of heavy rain and severe weather. The rain directly falling in the region should help with the ongoing drought and rain farther north should eventually get into the Mississippi River, providing another boost. But the overall drought and dryness should cause that to be brief as water levels continue to trend downward.

In the Southeast, a coastal system that produced heavy rain brought drought down across South Carolina, but did not do enough to keep drought from growing across the rest of the region. Significant drought has developed across Alabama and Georgia. A front will sweep through with showers and thunderstorms this weekend, which could help this drought some. A front that sweeps through next week is forecast to be dry though, and drought growth could return.

In the Western U.S., a pair of systems moved through the region this week, producing widespread areas of rain. Some heavy rain fell across California and other parts of the region as well. This has helped to reduce drought across the Four Corners area in particular. But drought is still well-entrenched across the majority of the region. Additional systems are likely to skirt by northern areas of the region this weekend and next week with some benefits there. An upper low could drift over the Southwest mid-to-late next week with some showers as well.

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