Eastern Cornbelt:
Temperatures in central Illinois plummeted from the upper-50s at midweek to the single digits by Feb. 18, and the colder weather was accompanied first by heavy rain and then 2-3 inches of snow.
Similar conditions were reported in Indiana. Heavy rain at midweek was replaced by freezing rain on Feb. 17, with reports of 3-6 inches of snow possible in central areas of the state by the end of the week, and up to 6-9 inches in the northern counties. Temperatures on Feb. 18 were expected to fall to the low single digits, with wind chills down to 10 below zero.
Steady rain was also reported across northern Ohio at midweek, followed by freezing rain and 1-3 inches of snow later in the week. Heavier amounts of accumulation were expected in southern Michigan, where forecasts warned of 5-9 inches by Feb. 18 and temperatures falling to the low teens.
Western Cornbelt:
Temperatures across central and southern Iowa fell from the upper-30s to the low-20s and teens on Feb. 17-18, with reports of freezing rain and an inch or two of snow in southeastern Iowa late in the week. Temperatures over the weekend were expected to rebound into the 40s and 50s, however.
Heavier snow and colder temperatures were reported in Missouri as the week progressed. Snow accumulation across a wide swath of central and northern Missouri reportedly ranged from 3-9 inches on Feb. 17-18, with temperatures dropping to the upper teens and wind chills falling to the single digits.
Northern Plains:
Gusty winds, snow, and cold temperatures blanketed much of the Northern Plains during the week. Forecasts warned of near blizzard conditions across North Dakota late in the week, along with subzero wind chills.
Highs in the single digits were reported in the Twin Cities area at midweek, prompting wind chill advisories for central and northern areas of the state. A winter storm watch was also in effect for parts of the state on Feb. 18, with forecasts warning of 60 mph winds, an inch or more of snowfall, and wind chills as low as 35 below zero.
Northeast:
After a cold and snowy start to the work week, temperatures warmed considerably across much of the Northeast as the week progressed.
Subzero lows were reported across New England on Feb. 14-15, but highs climbed to the 40s by midweek, with forecasts suggesting a possible high of 60 in Boston on Feb. 17. The warmer weather was accompanied by strong winds, however, followed by a return to cooler weather over the weekend, with highs expected in the 30s.
Strong winds and balmy temperatures were also reported in Pennsylvania and Maryland during the week, with highs reaching the 50s and 60s on Feb. 16-17, up from lows in the 20s on Valentine’s Day.
Eastern Canada:
A wintry mix of rain, freezing rain, and snow was reported across southern and central Ontario at midweek, prompting a number of advisories and special weather statements from Environment Canada. Forecasts warned of 10-15 mm of rain and up to 10-20 cm of snow in some locations, along with much cooler temperatures.
Similar conditions were reported across Quebec, with Montreal bracing for 30-40 mm of rainfall. The storm was expected to impact the Maritimes late in the week, as forecasts warned of 25-50 mm of rain and high winds in Nova Scotia by Friday, followed by colder weather over the weekend.
Earlier in the week, Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia were battered by strong winds and 20-35 cm of snow, with reports of as much as 40 cm of snow in Cape Breton.
Sources said it is still weeks away from any early fieldwork or fertilizer movement in the region. “There is still lots of snow cover and well-below-freezing temperatures,” said one contact at midweek. “In past years, late March is about the earliest, but usually we get started mid-April or so.”