Chances for Rain Shifting North This Week

In the Midwest, some showers moved through late last week with another front moving through. Spotty showers followed behind it for the weekend. A smaller system will move through on Tuesday into Wednesday with scattered showers. A system moving through Canada will bring some showers through the region for late Thursday into Saturday. And another system will move through this weekend into early next week with more widespread showers and thunderstorms looking likely. The frequent precipitation should keep soil moisture well stocked in most areas.

In the Northern Plains, isolated showers moved through over the weekend, but the overall trend has been for drier weather. A small system continues those spotty showers for Monday. But the pattern will get a little more active later this week. A system will move through on Thursday with scattered showers possible with another system this weekend that should increase that coverage further.

In the Central and Southern Plains, a disturbance brought widespread showers and thunderstorms over the weekend, which were heavy across parts of Oklahoma and Texas, easing drought there. Showers across the west were not as heavy, but more widespread than forecast, helping to increase soil moisture at least a little bit. Showers and thunderstorms will be spotty throughout the week with better chances coming with a stronger cold front this weekend.

In the Delta, heavy rain fell across the south this weekend as a disturbance moved along an old boundary. Though there may be some showers in the south again on Monday, much of this week will be drier. Soil moisture is much improved over the last couple of weeks of wetter weather, but long-term drought remains a problem for the region. The pattern may get busier this weekend and especially next week as there is potential for a front to stall in the region.

In the Southeast U.S., an old front continued showers in a few spots this weekend, while northern areas saw a few showers from another front as well. That second front will push through the region on Monday with scattered showers and a few thunderstorms, but not a lot of rain. Though precipitation has been helping to increase topsoil moisture, long-term drought is a major problem in the region. After Monday, the week is likely to be dry.

In the Western U.S., it was dry over the weekend and will be across the south throughout the week. A system or two will move through northern areas this week and will bring some showers up that way, but deficits have been building and the rainfall is not forecast to be enough to keep up with demand. Drought is in a slow process of growth through much of the region.

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