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Active storm pattern likely for Midwest through April

A climatologist based in the Midwest expects thunderstorm potential to ramp up the second half of the month.

Justin Glisan is with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and says Iowa and surrounding states are transitioning from large-scale low-pressure systems that bring widespread weather across the region to more localized “meso-scale” activity.

“Which is thunderstorm activity. That’s where we get a bulk of our precipitation, April, May and June are the three wettest months for Iowa and much of the Midwest. And that’s basically thunderstorm-driven rainfall.”

He tells Brownfield that does increase the likelihood of severe weather.

“But with that severe weather we do see higher potential for rainfall (as well).”

Glisan points out while some areas need the moisture, the potential for a wet rest of April and first half of May could delay planting.