Eastern Cornbelt:
Highs in southern Illinois climbed to the mid-60s and low-70s during the week, while northern areas of the state struggled to break out of the low-40s, with an increased chance of thunderstorms across central and southern areas of the state on March 23.
Parts of Indiana were bracing for potentially heavy rain on March 23-25, with forecasts warning of 2-5 inches across the state. A flood watch was issued on March 23 for areas south of Interstate 70 as the storm pushes through the region.
Spotty rains were also reported in Ohio during the week, with an increased chance of heavy precipitation late in the week.
Western Cornbelt:
Temperatures warmed to the 60s in parts of Iowa and Nebraska during the week, but more winter weather was on the way. Parts of Iowa were bracing for potentially severe storms over the weekend, including heavy rain and snow.
A winter weather advisory was also issued for northern Nebraska at midweek, with three or more inches of snow expected, along with a coating of ice in some locations. Several bands of rain moved across central Missouri during the week, with highs climbing from the mid-40s to the upper-60s as the week progressed.
California:
Another atmospheric river – the 12th to hit California this winter – brought heavy rain and strong winds to the state during the week, leaving more than 100,000 homes and businesses without power on March 22.
The storm dropped more than an inch of rain in the valleys and as much as 4-5 feet of snow at higher elevations, and also produced an F1 tornado in Montebello. More than 14,000 people statewide were under orders to seek higher ground because of flooding, with evacuation warnings issued for another 47,000 residents.
The bulk of evacuation orders, covering some 12,000 people, were in Tulare County, a flood-stricken region in the San Joaquin Valley. Parts of Arizona and Nevada were also under flood watches and advisories during the week due to rain and runoff from melting snow. Lake Tahoe has posted its second-snowiest winter on record, receiving 677 inches so far this season.
“Applications are slim with the amount of weather we are still experiencing,” said one fertilizer contact. “We will still need the fields to dry up for things to really get moving.”
“It’s been a frustrating spring, with only a day or two of drying weather then more of the same,” added another source. “Though a profitable February, March is going to be ugly.”
Pacific Northwest:
Temperatures in western Oregon reached the 60s at midweek, but wet weather moved in later in the week. Steady rain was reported in the Willamette Valley as the week progressed, with snow falling at higher elevations in western Oregon and southwestern Washington.
Sunny, warm weather was reported in eastern Washington at midweek, but colder weather and an increased chance of rain and snow was likely by the weekend. A mix of rain and snow was also reported across much of Idaho later in the week, while western Montana was bracing for another snowy weekend.
“There is some fieldwork going on, but it’s been very hit-or-miss around the wet weather,” said one Washington source. “From the forecasts, it looks like things should be full tilt by early next week.”
Western Canada:
The week began with several road closures in Manitoba due to blowing snow and icy conditions, including Highway 75 from Winnipeg to Ste. Agathe and Highway 14 from Plum Coulee to Highway 75.
Temperatures across Saskatchewan remained below freezing for most of the week, with reports of snowfall in northern areas of the province. Alberta and British Columbia saw highs above freezing at midweek, though colder weather and snow flurries were in the weekend forecast for portions of both provinces.
“It does not appear it’s going to be an early spring, as most areas are still covered with snow,” commented one Saskatchewan source at midweek. “The best case will be April 20 at this point.”
Manitoba’s Hydrological Forecast Centre raised its spring flood forecast for the Red River from moderate to major on March 22, citing recent heavy snowfall in North Dakota and Minnesota. The river is now expected to crest this spring at a volume similar to the 2019 flood. Moderate flooding risks remain along the Assiniboine and Souris rivers, while a low flood risk exists for several Red River tributaries, including the Roseau, Rat, and Pembina rivers.