Precipitation Impact Commentary

In the Midwest, isolated showers became scattered over the weekend and spread to many areas of the region as a slow-moving system continues to push through early this week. It will be followed by another system that is forecast to produce some heavier rain across the south Tuesday through Thursday as well. The rainfall will help to reduce the drought in the region, or at least its expansion, bringing more water into the Mississippi and Ohio River systems.

In the Northern Plains, showers continued over the eastern Dakotas over the weekend with a departing system and new showers are moving into western areas with a new one on Monday. However, after that, drier conditions are forecast for the remainder of the week.

In the Central and Southern Plains, a slow-moving system brought batches and waves of scattered showers over the weekend, creating some areas of heavy rain. That will help with the recent increasing dryness. Another system will move through the region with more showers Monday through Wednesday before the region goes drier.

In the Delta, isolated showers became a bit more widespread over the weekend, especially across the north, which continues on Monday. Another system moving through northern areas should bring some areas of heavier rain for Tuesday through Thursday and could help to reduce the drought, or at least delay its spread for a while. Water levels on the Mississippi River will also halt from continuing to drop, at least temporarily. Much more rain is needed to reverse that trend.

In the Southeast, spotty showers continued over the weekend and many areas were missed. Showers farther north and west will struggle to move through the region until Wednesday, but we may see the showers slow-walk across the region and bring some overall good amounts that could help with the increasing dryness over the last few weeks.

In the Western U.S., a system moved through the northwest with limited showers over the northwest. A stream of moisture over the Southwest produced meaningful rainfall for some of the drought areas as well. A low-pressure system off the California coast will continue showers in the Southwest for much of the week, though areas of heavy rain will be limited. Northwestern areas will stay largely dry with drought more likely to build there.

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

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