Eastern Cornbelt:
Strong storms pushed through the Eastern Cornbelt on April 1-2, prompting warnings of thunderstorms, tornadoes, and flash flooding in the region.
A total of 30 Indiana counties were under a tornado watch on April 2, while overnight storms in Illinois caused extensive damage in some southern areas of the state. A second system resulted in a winter weather advisory for northern Illinois on April 3, with forecasts warning of 2-4 inches of snow. Up to 8-12 inches of snow was reported in parts of Wisconsin.
Ohio and Michigan were also hit with damaging winds, hail, and heavy rain early in the week, with more than 7,000 power outages reported across multiple counties in northern Michigan on April 2.
Western Cornbelt:
A powerful spring storm brought rain and snow to much of Iowa early in the week, along with strong winds. While snowfall was limited to 2-5 inches in certain areas, rainfall totals were significantly higher, including more than three inches in Ottumwa and two or more inches in Bloomfield, Seymour, and Centerville.
The system also sparked strong thunderstorms across Missouri, with reports of up to two inches of rain, damaging winds, and large hail in some areas. In Nebraska, by contrast, gusty winds and low humidity prompted a red flag fire warning at midweek.
Southern Plains:
Severe thunderstorm and tornado watches were in effect early in the week for a large swathe of eastern Kansas and northern Oklahoma, while golf ball-sized hail and damaging winds were reported in parts of northern Texas on April 1.
Texas growers had 57% of the corn planted as of March 31, along with 42% of the sorghum crop and 5% of the cotton. Corn planting in Kansas was reported at 2% complete by that date.
South Central:
Weather conditions during the week were described as cool, breezy, and dry in Arkansas, while strong thunderstorms on April 2 caused widespread power outages across Kentucky and eastern Tennessee. Northern Mississippi also experienced strong storms on that date, with reports of large hail and 70 mph winds in some locations.
Corn planting as of March 1 was 2% complete in Kentucky and Tennessee, while rice planting had progressed to 51% complete in Louisiana, 32% in Texas, 2% in Arkansas, and 1% in Mississippi.
Southeast:
Strong storms punched through the Southeast at midweek, prompting tornado watches and sparking heavy rain and damaging winds in many locations.
Tornado warnings and severe thunderstorm warnings were in effect on April 2-3 for multiple locations in Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, and Georgia. A tornado was confirmed on April 2 in Alabama’s Dallas and Chilton counties, while squall lines in northern and central Florida produced torrential rains and gusty winds at midweek.