Weather

Wind-blown on parts of the Plains; a December thaw throughout the Heartland

Across the Corn Belt, mostly dry but breezy weather prevails.  Mild air has overspread much of the Midwest, but a pesky snow cover lingers in much of the Great Lakes region.  Wednesday’s high temperatures should range from near 30°F in portions of the upper Great Lakes region to 50°F or higher in Missouri and Nebraska, as well as southern Illinois.

On the Plains, unusual warmth has left winter wheat exposed to potential weather extremes, although to this point in the season the crop has generally overwintered well.  However, as winds increase, an elevated wildfire threat is developing across portions of the central and southern High Plains.

In the South, temperatures are gradually rebounding, following the recent cold spell.  Although a few rain showers are developing from the western Gulf Coast region to the Mississippi Delta, some producers are taking advantage of the milder weather to complete fieldwork and perform farm maintenance.

In the West, high winds raking the northern half of the region are resulting in travel disruptions and expanding power outages.  For Wednesday, wind gusts as high as 60 to 90 mph may occur in the northern and central Rockies and adjacent foothills.  In portions of the Olympic Range and the Cascades, blizzard conditions are further complicating travel through mountain passes.  Finally, the threat of flash flooding and river flooding persists at lower elevations of the Pacific Northwest, while mild, dry weather stretches from central and southern California into the Southwest.