Weather Pattern Looking Very Wet in Early March

In the Midwest, a couple of systems brought scattered showers to the region this week, but only with spotty, lighter amounts in most places. Drought increased slightly on this week’s update and is a concern going into spring. However, the weather pattern will only increase the precipitation potential across the region in early March. A small streak of snow will move across the region on Saturday followed by heavier precipitation across the south Sunday into Monday. More precipitation is forecast to flow into the region throughout next week and weekend, helping to ease the drought situation.

In the Northern Plains, a couple of systems and fronts went through the region this week, but only produced spotty showers. The trend toward increasing drought has been concerning over the last few weeks. However, active weather will be flirting with the region through next week. A streak of snow will move through on Saturday and we could see some isolated showers Sunday into early next week. The weather pattern favors increased precipitation to the south and east, but portions of the region could bank some showers at various points depending on how far north the systems can manage.

In the Central and Southern Plains, some isolated showers went through northern areas, but most of the region stayed dry this week. That continues into the weekend as well, with only isolated showers for eastern areas on Sunday. However, the weather pattern will open up significantly next week and almost daily scattered showers are in the forecast. That should help with the expanding drought in the region, though prolonged precipitation may cause some areas of flooding, especially in those areas that are hit repeatedly. Those appear more likely in the east. Areas in the west will get precipitation as well, but are less likely to see heavy amounts. If not heavy, drought may actually expand there while the pattern favors more rain.

In the Delta, a few showers went through this week, but the region has been mostly dry. Drought continues to be a major issue heading into spring and deficits are extremely large in some portions. Some showers will occur over the weekend, primarily across the north, but the weather pattern should increase potential for rounds of heavier rain by later next week. There is a lot of work to do to reduce drought, but the coming pattern should offer some assistance.  

In the Southeast, some isolated showers went through earlier this week, but a system moved into the Tennessee Valley on Wednesday night and will continue to produce scattered showers for Thursday and Friday. Drought continues to be a significant problem for the region, especially for Georgia and Florida. The rain will help, but deficits are very large. Far northern areas may see some showers this weekend and early next week, but not the most drought-stricken areas to the southeast. Though drier weather is likely next week, we could see the more active weather to the west finally start to increase chances for more widespread rainfall later next week or weekend. Those areas far to the east that are in the worst drought may not have the best opportunities, though.

In the Western U.S., significant precipitation poured into the Northwest this week with heavy amounts near the coast and across the mountains. The valleys didn’t receive as much, but the additional snowpack will help come spring. Southern areas stayed drier though and drought continues to be rather stout in the Four Corners area despite some bigger systems lately. Additional precipitation will move through the north this weekend and several systems will follow through the northern two-thirds of the region next week. It will be harder to get precipitation into the deserts and across the far south. But areas in deepest drought across Utah into Colorado will get multiple chances to stack some precipitation.

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