Drier This Week Despite Fronts

In the Midwest, a front moved this weekend, which produced scattered showers and thunderstorms as well as some hail for the Ohio Valley. A couple of fronts will mill about northern areas for the early portion of this week, with limited to no precipitation. A stronger front will move through on Thursday into early Friday with scattered showers. Drought is significantly reduced across the region, but still remains in a string from the Missouri-Iowa border into northwest Ohio. This section could really use the rain.

In the Northern Plains, some isolated showers moved through over the weekend, but most areas stayed dry. Several fronts will be hanging around the region through Wednesday, but with very little precipitation expected. A stronger front will come through on Thursday, but again precipitation looks limited. Drought is situated over a large portion of the region outside of North Dakota and is growing. The limited rainfall this week will allow that to continue.

In the Central and Southern Plains, it was dry this weekend and extreme heat has sapped soil moisture out of the topsoil. Drought continues to grow in most of the region, being very deep across Nebraska and Oklahoma. A front will move through on Thursday and Friday, but is not forecast to bring any significant showers. Drought is expected to grow this week and is very concerning this spring.

In the Delta, it was dry this weekend, even though a front moved in on Sunday. Dry weather is expected most of the week as well. A front moving through on Friday could bring showers to northern areas, but is not expected to be widespread or heavy. Drought continues to be very entrenched in the region despite some heavier rain in early March. The situation is likely to get worse this week.

In the Southeast U.S., it was dry over the weekend. And while a front is moving through on Monday, it is largely dry. Another front will move through on Friday, but is not forecast to produce much precipitation. Dryness and drought continue to be a major concern and will get worse this week.

In the Western U.S., a few showers fell across the far north, but mostly in the mountains. Another system could bring showers to northern areas Tuesday and Wednesday, but it appears to be another dry week for most of the region. The momentum for building drought has returned to the region.

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