Weather

Winter-like across much of the Heartland on this last, full day of winter

Across the Corn Belt, a high-pressure system centered over the middle Missouri Valley is resulting in a sharp cold snap, with Monday morning’s minimum temperatures across the upper Midwest generally ranging from 10 to 20°F.  Freezes were noted early Monday throughout the Corn Belt, with blustery conditions and a few snow showers occurring from the Mississippi Valley eastward.

On the Plains, dry weather accompanies below-normal temperatures.  Monday morning’s low temperatures fell below 32°F as far south as the northern panhandle of Texas, while readings below 20°F were common in Nebraska and the Dakotas.  Winter wheat has largely not developed enough to be harmed by the cold spell, although 7% of Oklahoma’s winter wheat was jointing by March 10.

In the South, widely scattered showers linger from southern Texas to peninsular Florida.  Elsewhere, cooler, drier air is arriving on gusty winds.  Temperatures below 32°F were reported Monday morning as far south as the Ozark Plateau and Tennessee Valley, where National Weather Service Freeze Warnings are in effect.  With even colder weather expected in many areas on Tuesday morning, producers in freeze-affected areas continue to monitor blooming fruits and winter grains.

In the West, lingering snow showers are confined to high-elevation sites in parts of Arizona and New Mexico.  Dry weather covers the remainder of the western U.S., with significantly warmer-than-normal weather in place across the Northwest.  Monday’s high temperatures could reach 75°F as far north as eastern Washington.