Weather
Cold wave abates
On the Plains, a potent but short-lived cold snap is being replaced by milder conditions. In addition, windy weather across the northern High Plains is eroding winter wheat’s protective snow cover.
Across the Corn Belt, mostly dry weather accompanies a warming trend. Snow is confined to areas near Lake Superior. All but the southern tier of the Midwest retains a substantial snow cover; current depths include 9 inches in Rockford, Illinois; 8 inches in Madison, Wisconsin; and 7 inches in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
In the South, isolated showers linger along the southern Atlantic Coast. Elsewhere, cool, dry weather supports off-season fieldwork. Short-term dryness remains a concern across much of Florida’s peninsula; statewide topsoil moisture was rated 46% very short to short on December 18.
In the West, mild conditions have returned, except for some lingering cold across the valleys of the Intermountain region. Wet weather, including high-elevation snow, continues in the Northwest.
Forecast High Temperatures (National)
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