Mid-Winter Weather Brings Snow and Cold to Heartland
A mid-winter weather pattern is dominating the Heartland, bringing snow, gusty winds, and frigid temperatures to several regions. In the Corn Belt, conditions are improving after a winter storm on February 4 caused over 5 inches of snow and wind gusts exceeding 40 mph in areas like Dubuque, Iowa, and La Crosse, Wisconsin. Meanwhile, Montana's High Plains are experiencing snowfall, which is providing much-needed moisture for winter wheat. In the South, Florida's peninsula is recovering from a light freeze that had minimal impact on crops, while rain showers are moving across the lower Southeast. The West remains mostly dry, except for snow in the northern Rockies and light showers in the Pacific Northwest. However, drought continues to affect 79.7% of the 11-state Western region, with exceptional drought conditions persisting in states like Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico.
