Weather

High-impact winter storminess across the South; some snow for parts of the Midwest Corn Belt

Across the Corn Belt, breezy weather prevails across the upper Midwest in the wake of a cold front’s passage.  Snow associated with the front is heaviest across the southern Corn Belt, which is experiencing its second disruptive winter weather event in less than a week.  Event-total snowfall could reach 4 inches or more in southern sections of Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana.

On the Plains, dry weather prevails, aside from lingering snow in parts of Oklahoma and Texas.  Following recent storms, winter wheat has been provided with an extensive but highly variable snow cover; benefits of the snow include a boost in topsoil moisture and insulation from low temperatures.  At the end of December—prior to recent storms—statewide topsoil moisture was rated 79% very short to short in South Dakota, along with 61% in Montana and 58% in Nebraska.

In the South, a winter storm is underway.  Heavy snow is falling across the northern tier of the region, including much of the Tennessee Valley, while freezing rain is causing a variety of travel and electrical issues from northeastern Texas into the southern Appalachians.  Farther south, scattered frost was noted early Friday as far south as Florida’s citrus belt.

In the West, southern California’s wildfire tragedy continues, with the Palisades and Eaton Fires having collectively scorched more than 30,000 acres of land in Los Angeles County.  Gusts across fire-ravaged areas could still reach 60 mph early Friday, with winds diminishing this afternoon.  Farther north, air stagnation and foggy conditions linger in parts of Idaho and Oregon, while showery weather is returning across western Washington.