Drew Lerner, Author at World Weather

East Australia Crops Still Need Greater Rain, Despite Showers

Kansas City, January 10 (World Weather Inc.) – Despite the ongoing El Nino event, eastern Australia’s main summer coarse grain, oilseed, and cotton areas have received timely rain so far this growing season. Rainfall has trended near to slightly above normal and helped support aggressive growth. The region will continue to see a good mix of spotty rain and sunshine through the middle of next week, though many areas will not receive enough rain to counter evaporation. The environment will remain favorable, though dryland crops will need greater rainfall for the best production.

NW U.S. Plains Snow Cover To Be Light During Bitter Cold

Kansas City, January 10 (World Weather Inc.) – Canada’s Prairies and the northwestern U.S. Plains have been snow free during much of the late autumn and early winter this year. The lack of snow is closely tied to the moderately strong El Nino event that has been underway. The warmth of El Nino is being washed out of the atmosphere by an impressive stratospheric warming event that has relocated the polar vortex in northeastern Europe and it will soon lead to a secondary polar vortex over eastern Canada. That development will bring arctic air to western Canada and the north-central United States without a big improvement in snowfall. As a result winter wheat in Montana, the western Dakotas and a few areas in southwestern Canada may not be adequately protected against damage that could occur by temperatures in the -30s and -20s Fahrenheit.

U.S. Midwest Braces For Damaging Blizzard Friday, Saturday

Kansas City, January 10 (World Weather Inc.) – One blizzard has already impacted a part of the Midwest in recent days and another is slated for Friday into Saturday. The new storm will be fueled by warm and moist air over the southeastern United States and very cold and dry air coming southeast from Canada. The intensifying storm will bring trees and powerlines down across the Midwest, produce substantial snow accumulations, close many roads and airports and bring commerce to a standstill. Livestock stress will be high and there will be potential for deaths for both animals and humans during the height of the storm.

U.S. Southeast Excessively Wet From Recent Rain

Kansas City, January 10 (World Weather Inc.) – Flood potentials are increasing for the U.S. southeastern states. A storm system that promoted varying amounts of snow and ice across portions of the Plains and Midwest this week also promoted several inches of rain for many areas in the southeastern states during the past three days. The ground is excessively wet, though no severe flooding has occurred thus far. Light precipitation is slated for the region through the middle of next week and flood potentials will decrease slightly. Colder temperatures in the week ahead will limit drying rates and most locations will still have abundant to excessive soil moisture. Precipitation potentials could increase during the second week of the outlook and if significant rain falls again the risk of flooding is likely to increase once more. Drying will be needed prior to spring planting.