Midwest Weekly Highlights - March 11-17, 2008

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Calm Returns to the Midwest

Following the record setting snows that buried parts of Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky during the first week of the month, the period of March 11-17 saw a return to much more seasonal weather across the Midwest. Temperatures were near normal, ranging from two degrees below average in parts of Missouri, Wisconsin and Ohio to three degrees above average in southern Illinois and central Minnesota (Figure 1).

Precipitation was at or below normal across the region during the week, with the driest area across the midsection of the Midwest at less than 25% of average (Figure 2). There was some slight improvement in the drought areas of Minnesota and Kentucky based on rains from the previous week on the March 11 Drought Monitor (Figure 3), but with little precipitation during the 11th to the 17th, no further improvements in conditions occurred.
 

Additional Snows Add to Snowpack

A clipper system moved across the Great Lakes early in the watch period bringing snow to regions across the upper Midwest (Figure 4). In Minnesota, near Brainerd, the storm brought a wet, heavy snow that resulted in hazardous road conditions. With dozens of vehicles in ditches, overwhelmed Minnesota State Patrol troopers had to request assistance from sheriff's deputies in Morrison, Aitkin and Crow Wing counties to aid with State Patrol calls. Later in the week, a low pressure system that dropped out of the Rockies (Figure 5) tracked again over the Great Lakes and brought additional light snow to the area (Figure 6). Both systems contributed to the deep snowpack that remains across the upper Midwest (Figure 7). Forecasters are monitoring it closely for concerns over future flooding as conditions warm and spring melt occurs.
 

Minor Flooding Across Midwest

With saturated ground, melting snows and new rainfall, some minor flooding occurred across portions of the Midwest this week (Figure 8) as another system tracked across the southern portion of the Midwest (Figure 9).

MCP