Flooding Anxiety Grows in the Midwest
Wet weather will persist across much of the Midwest through the end of the week. The combination of the rain and melting snow will cause flooding problems for parts of the region.
In the next few days, half of an inch to an inch of rain will drench the Upper Midwest. Rivers and streams that are already beginning to swell from melting snow will be overwhelmed by additional runoff.
The snow from the Dakotas to Wisconsin and Iowa will release several inches of liquid water as it melts. Over 6 inches of water is currently stored in the snowcover in parts of this area.
Fortunately, not all of this snow will melt just yet. Temperatures will remain cool enough to prevent the snow from melting quickly.
Low-lying areas and smaller streams and rivers will be the first to feel the effects from the sudden influx of water. As the water slowly drains from these waterways into the larger ones, major flooding could ensue on the major rivers.
The Red River Basin, as well as others over the northern Plains and the Upper Midwest, will face a growing concern for significant flooding in the coming weeks.
As the storm shifts into the Northeast late this week, similar flooding problems from the rain and melting snow will become likely.
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Daily U.S. Extremes
past 24 hours
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | 82° | Gila Bend, AZ |
| Low | -13° | Clayton Lake, ME |
| Precip | 1.24" | Spanish Fork, UT |
WeatherWhys®
The "Dead of Winter," the one-month period when normal temperatures reach their lowest levels, has come to an end for much of the United States. Some people may find it odd that the "Dead of Winter" does not encompass the darkest day of the year (the first day of winter). That is due to a seasonal lag in temperatures. More heat continues to be lost than is gained from the start of winter until this time of year.
This Day In Weather History
Gulf Coast 1 (899)
ry cold morning along Gulf Coast; New Orleans 6.8 deg.; Mobile -1 deg.; Pensacola 7 deg.; Tallahassee -2 deg (All time record for Florida. Brownsville 12 deg. (all time low).
North Dakota 1 (936)
this date the mercury plummeted to -60 deg. at Parshall, ND - the coldest temperature ever for the State of ND. Later the same year, the mercury soared to 121 deg. at Steele, ND - the hottest temperature ever for the state of ND.
Rough Weather
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