Major Cold and Wet Event Underway Across the North Central States

Over the next couple of weeks unseasonably cold temperatures, very wet conditions and potentially heavy snow are likely to have a number impacts across the north central United States. The regional climate service partnership between National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and U.S. Dept of Agriculture (USDA) have put together the this briefing to discuss the situation: https://www.climatehubs.oce.usda.gov/sites/default/files/spring_cold_and_freeze_dss-dt.pdf. The briefing package describes the event that is currently unfolding and looks forward about two weeks. The impacts, while potentially many, are very much based on agriculture and other associated sectors like horticulture. Due to the early spring warmth most of this region has experienced growing conditions 1 to 2 weeks early. That makes them especially vulnerable to freezing temperatures.

Finally, we would like to thank NOAA's National Weather Service and National Centers for Environmental Information, USDA Midwestern and Northern Plains Agricultural Climate Hubs, and High Plains and Midwestern Regional Climate Centers for helping to put the briefing together.