Eastern Cornbelt:
Temperatures and weather conditions varied widely across the Eastern Cornbelt during the last days of March. While highs in central and southern Illinois reached the mid-60s and low-70s at midweek, a line of strong thunderstorms on March 31 produced heavy rain and 50-60 mph winds across the region, and pushed temperatures down to the mid- to upper-40s on April 1.
Gusty winds and rain also pushed through central Indiana during the week, although highs touched the 70s in some areas of the state at midweek. As the week progressed, however, temperatures struggled to climb out of the 40s in central and northern Indiana, with reports of snow flurries in some areas on the last day of the month.
Northern Ohio experienced much of the same, with temperatures falling from the upper-60s to the 40s and 50s amid strong winds and scattered showers during the week.
Western Cornbelt:
Parts of central, southern, and eastern Iowa were hit with light snow at midweek as temperatures dipped to the mid-30s across the state. Snow accumulation ranged from 1-3 inches by the time the storm moved out, with temperatures climbing to the mid-40s on March 30-31.
Iowa’s snowfall was fed by a massive complex of thunderstorms stretching 750 miles from Louisiana to Indiana, generating at least 29 tornadoes in seven states on March 29. The system also produced thunderstorms in eastern Nebraska, and heavy rain and gusty winds across Missouri on March 30-31.
Northern Plains:
Although the week began with sunshine and warmth across much of the Northern Plains, a mix of rain and snow moved in at midweek, along with much colder temperatures.
Highs in the 50s were reported in North Dakota early in the week, before a cold front dropped highs down to the 30s and blanketed parts of eastern North Dakota with an inch or two of snow at midweek.
The same system also brought less than two inches of snow to the Twin Cities, but as much as six inches was reported in northern Minnesota and parts of northern Wisconsin. Heavy rain was reported along the Minnesota-Iowa border on March 29, with freezing rain blanketing parts of southern and central Minnesota.
A warmup was on tap again for the coming weekend, with highs expected to climb into the 50s.
Great Lakes:
Much of Wisconsin saw a “prolonged period of precipitation” during the week, according to the National Weather Service, with northern areas of the state seeing a wintry mix of freezing rain, sleet, and snow. Flood warnings were also in effect for some areas.
Michigan experienced a seesaw in weather conditions during the week. Parts of the state were under a winter weather advisory due to snow and ice on March 29, followed by highs in the 60s on March 30. On March 31, another system brought high winds, cold temperatures, and snow showers to much of Lower Michigan.
Northeast:
The week started with cold, snowy weather for much of the Northeast region, but spring-like conditions were expected as the week progressed.
A wintry mix of precipitation was reported across New England during the first half of the week, but highs were expected to push up into the 60s late in the week. Forecasts warned of rain and strong winds for much of New England on Thursday and Friday, with warm and sunny weather by the weekend.
A weather advisory was in effect at midweek for portions of central and western Pennsylvania, with forecasts warning of freezing rain and sleet. Earlier in the week, snow squalls across east-central Pennsylvania triggered a deadly pileup of roughly 60 vehicles on Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County.
Sleet, snow, 40-mph winds, and cold temperatures were also in Maryland’s forecast for the start of the week, but warmer weather was reported at midweek for much of the state, with highs reaching the 50s. Even higher temperatures on March 31 were expected to usher in an increased chance of severe thunderstorms and damaging winds, however.
Some contacts in Pennsylvania reported a busy stretch of spring application in mid-March on forage crops such as rye, wheat, and barley, with both dry and liquid fertilizer moving in topdress applications. The pace was much quieter in late March as the region gears up for corn planting.
Eastern Canada:
A mix of winter precipitation covered most of Eastern Canada as the week began, with reports of freezing rain and ice pellets across southern and eastern Ontario at midweek. A blast of much warmer air moved into southern Ontario on March 31, however, along with 90 km/h wind gusts that contributed to power outages across the region.
Environment Canada on March 30 issued a freezing rain warning for a large swath of southern Quebec, including Montreal, with forecasts warning of 2-5 mm of freezing rain across the area before temperatures warmed to high of 10 C on March 31.
A mix of ice and snow also blanketed parts of the Maritimes in late March, along with gusty winds. Warmer temperatures were expected in the Maritimes by the weekend, but colder weather and a potential for snow flurries was likely across southern Ontario on April 1-2.
Sources reported some spotty field activities in the region in late March, but cold temperatures continued to keep most fertilizer application on the sidelines. “We are still below freezing temperatures and still have snow on the ground,” said one Ontario contact. “A few guys are trying to get out on the frozen ground for a bit of wheat fertilizer application.”