Eastern Cornbelt:
Scattered showers were reported across central and southern Illinois late in the week, with highs creeping up to the mid-40s. Mild temperatures and mixed precipitation were also reported in central Indiana late in the week, while fog and light rain moved through northern Ohio on Dec. 8.
Mixed precipitation was also in southern Michigan’s forecast as the week advanced, with some areas expecting to pick up an inch or two of snow by the weekend.
Western Cornbelt:
Dry conditions prevailed across much of Iowa during the week, although rain, freezing rain, and scattered snow showers worked their way across most of the state on Dec. 8. Winter weather advisories were in effect for northern Nebraska and northwestern Iowa on Dec. 8-9, with forecasts warning of 4-6 inches of snow possible for parts of northern Iowa.
Much of southern Missouri was under a dense fog advisory on Dec. 6, with rainfall reported across a wide swath of the state on Dec. 7-8. Parts of southern Missouri reportedly picked up an inch of precipitation at midweek.
Sources reported “a little fall business” still moving to the field in some parts of the region, but the incoming weather was expected to halt activity late in the week.
Northern Plains:
A winter weather advisory was in effect on Dec. 8-9 for southern South Dakota and southwestern Minnesota, with forecasts warning of freezing rain and up to 2-4 inches of snow in some locations. A second system was expected to bring more scattered snow flurries to parts of eastern Minnesota on Dec. 10.
North Dakota residents were also bracing for snowfall and frigid temperatures during the week. Forecasts warned of an additional two inches of snow in the Bismarck-Mandan area, with temperatures dropping to subzero lows at midweek. Highs in the 20s were expected by the coming weekend.
Northeast:
Highs were in the upper-40s and low-50s across much of New England, but lower temperatures and an increased chance of rain and snow showers were in the weekend forecast.
Rain and snow were also reported in Pennsylvania as the week progressed. Temperatures in Maryland were in the mid-50s during the week, but slightly cooler weather and spotty showers were in the weekend forecast.
Eastern Canada:
Ontario residents were bracing for rain and snow over the coming weekend, with the heaviest snow accumulation expected north of Highways 401 and 407. Extreme cold warnings were also in effect for parts of northern Ontario during the week, with wind chills falling to a negative 38-46 C in Dryden, Vermilion Bay, and Fort Severn.
Parts of Quebec and the Maritimes were hit with strong winds and heavy rain earlier in December, causing widespread power outages in the region. Most high wind warnings were lifted by Dec. 5, however.
Fall fertilizer application was largely complete across Eastern Canada, although some sources reported ongoing movement in early December in areas missed by the recent storms and precipitation.