Early November Clipper Pattern Leaving Many Dry

In the Midwest, a clipper moved through over the weekend with areas of isolated showers. Another is moving through on Monday with a few showers over Michigan. Another clipper will move through midweek with showers over northern areas. One more clipper moving through Thursday night and Friday may see increased coverage of showers. Yet another will move through this weekend and be able to tap into some colder air, which will increase the potential for snow and likely produce lake-effect snows behind it into next week.

In the Northern Plains, a clipper moved through over the weekend but with little precipitation. The region will see several clipper systems moving through this week but with overall limited precipitation. Some of that could be in the form of accumulating snow, though, especially one that moves through this weekend.

In the Central and Southern Plains, it was rather dry over the weekend, with some isolated showers in just a few spots. The region will tend to be much drier this week and into next week with the storm track well to the north in the clipper pattern. Though some areas saw significant rain to end October, the beginning of November is looking dry, which a return of momentum for increasing drought.

In the Delta, scattered showers went through over the weekend, but they were mostly light. Clippers will bring a couple of fronts through this week, but with limited precipitation. Though the Mississippi River saw a bump from rain in October, the return of dryness will lead water levels down again this week.

In the Southeast, a weak system moved through with spotty showers over the weekend. The region should be much drier this week, though some showers may move through across the north in the clipper pattern. A stronger cold front could bring showers through this weekend, but the region is now in a much drier trend that could mean spreading drought.

In the Western U.S., the storm track continued to be across the Pacific Northwest this weekend, bringing heavy precipitation into the mountains, but not much in the valleys. The track will continue to be over the north this week as several systems move through. An atmospheric river event could mean some heavy precipitation Wednesday through Friday that could help to ease drought. Southern areas will be very dry and drought is forecast to expand.

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