Areas of Heavy Rain Hitting Dry Areas Again This Week

In the Midwest, isolated showers fell across the region this weekend. A front dropping down from Canada will produce scattered showers into Wednesday, and more isolated showers will likely follow the rest of the week. This should help to maintain soil moisture for most areas and improve it across the somewhat drier south. Some areas in the northwest are a bit drier, but overall soil conditions are good.

In the Northern Plains, isolated showers fell across the region this weekend and more will move through this week. The prospect for any heavy rainfall is very low and is unlikely to occur. Some areas are still dry in the west and south and need rain, while others are starting to dry out a bit as well. Though the dryness this week won’t be harsh, the momentum is in the wrong direction.

In the Central and Southern Plains, isolated showers fell over the weekend and were light. Drought continues to be a major issue in the region. However, a front moving in on Monday will continue showers across the region for Tuesday and Wednesday as well. Some areas of moderate to heavy precipitation will hit some of the driest areas in the west, but not all. However, this will come as snow in Colorado and may be very heavy close to the Rockies. Afterward, additional streaks and batches of showers and thunderstorms should be expected.

In the Delta, heavy rainfall last week helped to reduce drought and build some surface soil moisture in the region. A front moving through Tuesday and Wednesday will bring additional rounds of showers and thunderstorms. Some severe weather may occur, but rainfall should be moderate to heavy. Additional showers and thunderstorms are expected this weekend and next week, helping to ease drought further. Rainfall deficits remain very large, so this process will take a long time, even if the weather pattern stays active.

In the Southeast U.S., scattered showers and thunderstorms moved through over the weekend, hitting some of the driest areas across the south with heavy rain. A front moving through on Thursday and Friday should provide additional showers and thunderstorms and would be beneficial as well. The region may stay active into next week with more showers and thunderstorms passing through.

In the Western U.S., some showers moved through the southern end of the region this weekend, but many areas stayed dry. Another upper-level low will bring limited showers through the southern half of the region for Monday and Tuesday, but will be followed by drier conditions. Drought continues to build and even the recent precipitation should have very little impact on the growing drought.

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