Midwest Weekly Highlights - March 1-7, 2010

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Dry Weather to Start Month

With high pressure in place (Figure 1), the Midwest remained mostly dry for the first five days of the month (Figure 2) with rain and snow moving into the region for the weekend on the 6th and 7th (Figure 3). For the week, rainfall was below normal everywhere except parts of Iowa (Figure 4). The US Drought Monitor, released early in the week, continued to show drought conditions in the upper Midwest and introduced an area of dryness in western Kentucky (Figure 5).
 

Warming Temperatures a Sign of Spring

Temperatures were near normal to above normal in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan and below normal in the other six Midwest states. Temperatures ranged from almost 10°F above normal in northern Minnesota to almost 10°F below normal in southeast Kentucky (Figure 6).  Just a handful of minimum temperature records and a couple maximum temperature records were set during the week. Across the northwestern two-thirds of the Midwest, temperatures in the first week of March were the warmest since the first week of December (Figure 7).
 

More Buildings Fall in Iowa

Commercial buildings in Mason City, Iowa (Cerro Gordo County) and Hampton, Iowa (Franklin County) collapsed on the 7th. Neither building was currently occupied so there were no injuries and damage was largely confined to the structures themselves. Blame for both collapses was tentatively pinned to heavy snow on the roofs which was further weighted by rain on the 6th and 7th.
 

Flooding Potential Remains

Several rivers in the Midwest remain on watch for potential spring flooding. Deep snow packs (Figure 8) holding several inches of water (Figure 9) remain in the Red, Missouri, Mississippi, and Ohio river watersheds. Temperature conditions in the first week of March were favorable with daytime melting (Figure 10) and below freezing conditions at night (Figure 11). The warm daytime temperatures help melt the snow pack while the cool overnight temperatures slow the melt to prevent rapid stream and river rises. Dry weather early in the week (Figure 2) was also favorable to avoid flooding but rain on Saturday and Sunday in Iowa and neighboring states (Figure 3) will lead to rising streams and rivers in the following days.
 

Spring Planting Concerns Mount

Farmers' concerns are mounting about getting their spring planting done in a timely manner. Last fall's late harvest left a few fields to be harvested this spring and many harvested fields still have remaining prep work prior to planting. The wet conditions in the fall saturated the soils and the heavy snow this winter only added to the problem. Many locations in the upper Midwest still have significant snow on the ground. Field work will have to wait for the snow to melt and soils to dry enough for equipment to get into the fields. Spring rains could lead to flooding because of the wet soils and remaining snow packs.
 

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