Showers to Move Through Country Next Week

In the Midwest, it was largely dry this week. Despite last week’s areas of heavy rainfall, drought remains in place across much of the region and is getting worse across the north. Dry conditions continue through the weekend, but a front will move through early next week with widespread areas of showers and some areas of heavier rain. That may help the drought situation somewhat, but it will still exist.

In the Northern Plains, spotty showers moved through the region this week, but most areas stayed dry. A front moved into the region on Wednesday and will continue the isolated showers through Friday. A system will ride along that front with areas of more consistent rainfall this weekend. Some areas of heavy rain will be possible.

In the Central and Southern Plains, spotty showers dotted the region this week, but areas that did see rain have seen potentially heavy amounts. Those spotty showers continue through the weekend. A front will move through early next week and should bring more widespread chances for showers, though amounts will be highly variable. Some pockets of heavy rain will be possible, though.

In the Delta, it was dry this week as a return to building drought has occurred. Largely dry conditions are expected through Saturday. But moisture moving north from the Gulf will start to produce showers on Sunday. A front moving through early next week will enhance those showers in a few spots, which may help with increasing soil moisture. Otherwise, drier conditions overall are still plaguing the area and causing drought to increase.

In the Southeast, though some heavy rain moved through the Carolinas and parts of Georgia over the weekend and early this week, drier weather south and west has caused drought to increase this week. It has since gone dry, but moisture will move northward from the Gulf and Atlantic to produce scattered showers Sunday through next week, until a front moves through, likely on Wednesday. Any rainfall will be helpful for the building drought in the region.

In the Western U.S., widespread showers have fallen across the region this week, though most of it occurred in the northern Great Basin, improving drought conditions slightly there. A trough off the West Coast will meander about the region through much of next week, providing some beneficial rainfall, though the Pacific Northwest is the area that will likely benefit the most. Reduction in drought will take several months, but the wet season is starting up and there will be opportunities in which to do so.

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