Two Systems Moving Through US Into the Weekend

In the Midwest, a few showers moved across northern areas earlier this week, but most areas stayed dry. A system is moving into the region on Thursday and will continue northeast on Friday. Some snow will form on the northern edge of this rain from Iowa into the UP of Michigan. A second storm will be right on its heels for late Friday and Saturday, bringing more snow and turning on some lake-effect through Sunday. Clipper systems will follow next week, with more limited accumulation.

In the Northern Plains, some spotty showers moved through this week, but most areas have stayed dry. Storms are bypassing the region into early next week with only spotty showers continuing in a few areas. A couple of clipper systems will move through next week with scattered showers, probably as a mix of rain and snow.

In the Central and Southern Plains, it was dry for most of the week, but a system moved into the region Wednesday night and continues to push through on Thursday. Scattered showers and thunderstorms continue eastward across the region. Some snow may develop over eastern Nebraska as well. A second system will be right on its heels with snow developing in the southwest early on Friday. Showers should expand eastward throughout the day as well, but models have cooled off on the coverage and intensity from earlier this week. Drier conditions are expected over the weekend with some light snow maybe across Nebraska. Clipper systems next week could bring through some isolated showers as well.

In the Delta, it was dry this week. But a system moving through the Midwest should get some showers and thunderstorms into the region on Thursday. A second storm should bring through more potent showers and thunderstorms for Friday into early Saturday. Some areas of heavy rain will help with the increasing drought in the region and bring boosts to local rivers.

In the Southeast, it was drier this week and drought has been expanding in many areas. A system will move through for Friday and Saturday and may bring some heavier rain to Tennessee and northern Alabama along the Appalachians into Virginia. That would help the drought situation at least temporarily, though southern areas could see drought expanding next week.

In the Western U.S., systems have been bringing scattered showers through the region this week, resulting in more improvement to drought conditions. The last system will move out on Friday and drier conditions will take over for next week. Area snowpack continues to be low for this time of year despite the widespread precipitation.

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