Eastern Cornbelt:
Rain and snow blanketed much of the Eastern Cornbelt during the week. A hazardous weather outlook was posted on Dec. 15 for northern Illinois and northwestern Indiana, with “intense” snow showers reported in some locations. Parts of western Michigan were bracing for 3-6 inches of snow by the weekend.
Steady rain hit central and southern Indiana during the week, with Evansville picking up nearly two inches and Indianapolis registering a little more than an inch. Showers were also reported in northern Ohio at midweek, along with scattered snow flurries but little accumulation.
Western Cornbelt:
Snow flurries and windy conditions were reported across much of Iowa, with colder temperatures moving in by the weekend. Blizzard conditions closed parts of Interstates 80 and 76 in the Nebraska Panhandle on Dec. 13, and Missouri was bracing for much colder weekend temperatures as well.
Southern Plains:
Storms caused road closures in Colorado and Kansas during the week, and sparked several tornadoes in Oklahoma and Texas. Winter weather also hammered parts of western and northern New Mexico with heavy snow and strong winds.
Blowing snow on Dec. 13 prompted the closure of Interstate 70 from Oakley, Kan., to Denver, Colo. Kansas was bracing for an “arctic chill” over the coming weekend, with overnight lows falling well below freezing and wind chills dropping to the single digits.
Several tornadoes on Dec. 13 caused widespread damage and power outages in Texas and Oklahoma. An EF2 tornado with 125 mph winds was confirmed in Wise County, northwest of Fort Worth, Texas, and another EF2 touched down in Wayne, Okla. The storms knocked out power to more than 33,000 homes and businesses. At least five tornadoes were confirmed across northern Texas on Dec. 13.
Parts of central Texas collected up to five inches of rain over the previous weekend, leaving growers across the Blacklands with just 30% of the wheat crop planted. The wheat crop in western Texas, by contrast, was described as excellent.
Dry and liquid blends were reportedly moving to the field in Texas, along with light ammonia applications on corn ground. Sources said corn planting in Texas is just 60 days away.
South Central:
Strong storms moved through Louisiana and Mississippi on Dec. 13, causing structural damage and power outages. Several tornado watches and warnings were issued on Dec. 13-14 for central, southern, and eastern Mississippi, with reports of more than 5,000 people without power in the state early on Dec. 14.
The same system brought heavy rain to parts of Arkansas. Midweek precipitation totals included up to an inch in central Arkansas and close to two inches in southeastern areas of the state. Much cooler temperatures moved in after the rain, with below-normal highs expected through the coming weekend.
Southeast:
The powerful storm system working its way across the US delivered heavy rain, damaging winds, and localized flooding to the Southeast late in the week.
Multiple tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings were issued in Alabama on Dec. 14, while flood watches were in effect in northern Georgia after more than two inches of rain fell at midweek. Virginia was expecting 1-2 inches of rain by Dec. 15, with similar amounts anticipated across central and western North Carolina.
The system also hammered northern and central Florida, with wind damage reported in some coastal counties on Dec. 15.