Midwest Flooding Concerns Outlined
The combination of rain and melting snow will lead to minor flooding problems from the western Great Lakes to the central Plains through the end of the week.
Rainfall on the order of 0.50 to 1.00 of an inch is expected from parts of northeastern Nebraska to southern Wisconsin, northern Illinois and southern Michigan, combined with partial melting snow will lead to standing water in fields, flooding of some small streams and perhaps minor lowland flooding along the lesser rivers.
There is over 6 inches of water locked up in the snow cover in parts of northwestern Iowa and southern Minnesota.
Fortunately, not all of this snow will melt, but snow cover in some areas will disappear the next few days.
This map shows the amount of water locked up in the snow cover. It is the northern fringe of this area at greatest risk for minor flooding into the weekend.
Temperatures are not expected to surge into the 50s and 60s with the rain over a large area, minimizing the flooding potential in the short term.
Concerns remain for major flooding in the coming weeks farther north over the Red River basin and others over the northern Plains and the Upper Midwest.
Most of the current storm's rain and thaw will slide south of this area, where over 2 feet of snow remains on the ground in some locations of the Dakotas.
The same storm will grow stronger and wetter in the Northeast this weekend, where the threat of moderate to severe flooding exists in and downstream from areas with a deep snow cover.
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Daily U.S. Extremes
past 24 hours
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | 72° | Thermal, CA |
| Low | -13° | Clayton Lake, ME |
| Precip | 0.32" | Salt Lake City, 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
Savannah, GA (1899)
(12th-13th) 2 in. snowfall, one of 3 snowstorms in past 200 years that re- quired a ruler measurement.
Lake Placid, NY (1980)
Finally some snow. Just in time for the opening ceremonies at the Olympic town.
Rough Weather
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