Lake-effect snow tallied up across parts of the Northeast and Midwest this past week, resulting widespread improvements to the drought depiction. The rest of the U.S. was not as lucky and saw mostly dry weather and worsening drought.

Northeast
Heavy to very heavy snowfall accumulations were observed in areas downwind from Lake Ontario and Lake Erie in New York and northwestern Pennsylvania. The highest totals were seen between Erie, Pa., and Buffalo and Watertown, N.Y., with up to 5+ feet of snow in some areas! The Appalachians also picked up beneficial snowfall this week, with generally 2 to 8 inches of fresh powder. Given the heavy snow, improvements were made to upstate New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and western Maryland. Currently, 78.9-percent of the region is covered by snow, with an average depth of 3.5 inches.

In contrast, areas further away from the Great Lakes saw much less in the way of rain and snow. Moderate Drought (D1) was expanded in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. A large swath of Severe (D2) to Extreme Drought (D3) remains across Massachusetts, Connecticut, the New York City metro area, New Jersey, the Philadelphia region and the Delmarva Peninsula.

Southeast
Dry weather prevailed throughout the Southeast this week except for some light rainfall in isolated areas of Alabama, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina.

Short-term dryness led to expansion of areas of drought in the Florida Panhandle. Elsewhere, areas of Moderate Drought (D1) were introduced in Virginia and the Carolinas in response to short-term dryness and declining streamflow levels. Southeastern Florida saw an expansion of Abnormal Dryness (D0). Conversely, there was a reduction of Extreme Drought (D3) in southwestern Alabama given recent precipitation. Recent rains have also improved drought conditions in western parts of the state.

South
Like the Southeast, it was fairly dry throughout the South this week. However, there was some light rainfall in southeastern Texas, Mississippi and Tennessee.

Some minor degradations were made in areas of Texas after another dry week, including north-central, south-central and the northeastern Edwards Plateau. A mix of short- and long-term dryness led to further expansion and intensification of drought in the eastern half of Tennessee where numerous stream gauges are far below normal. Areas of drought were introduced to parts of Arkansas in response to short-term precipitation deficits, low streamflows and declining soil moisture.

Midwest
Heavy lake-effect snow was seen across parts of the Midwest, mainly the Upper Peninsula of Michigan as well as areas downwind of Lake Michigan in northern and southeast Michigan. Generally smaller accumulations fell across the rest of the Midwest, particularly Minnesota, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.

Drought-related improvements occurred across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Ohio in response to the snowfall over the past week. Currently, the northern Great Lakes region is around 56-percent snow covered, with an average depth of 2.5 inches. The snowfall over the past few weeks has also helped drought conditions in Michigan.

High Plains
While there was some light snow that fell in the Dakotas, dry weather was found across the High Plains this week. A large swath of Severe (D2) to Extreme Drought (D3) remains across Wyoming, northern Nebraska, South Dakota, and western North Dakota.

Despite the dry weather, drought conditions either improved or remained status quo this week. Some minor improvements were made in North Dakota give the snowfall over the past few weeks. West-central Kansas also saw a few improvements, where precipitation has been above normal over the last 30 to 60 days.

West
Drier weather prevailed across most of the West this week. The exception was the southern Sierra Nevada, the Great Basin and the higher elevations of Utah, northern Arizona, northern New Mexico and Colorado, which experienced some light snow.

Despite the dry week, many improvements were made to the drought in the West given the recent heavy rain and snow, good snowpack and reservoirs being at or above historical averages. These improvements occurred in drought-affected areas of Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico. However, there were some minor degradations in isolated areas of Arizona, New Mexico and Wyoming.

In the Future
Next week’s drought monitor will start with a large storm system moving across the Eastern U.S., allowing for widespread rain and snow. This weather system combined with ongoing lake-effect snow will result in heavy to very heavy snowfall amounts again for parts of the Midwest and Northeast. Generally light rainfall amounts are likely in the South and Southeast, but there should still be improvements to the drought depiction. A new low pressure system will bring a return snow to the Midwest and Northeast towards the end of the week, and more rain for the South and Southeast. Overall, most of the East will see widespread drought improvements next week.

Meanwhile, in the West and High Plains, a generally drier weather pattern awaits the first half of next week’s drought monitor. A slow-moving Pacific system creates rain and mountain snow for the second half. There could be a mix of improvements and degradations in the drought depiction here.

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Source: U.S. Drought Monitor

Latest Drought Update: Heavy Lake-Effect Snow Improves Drought For Some Parts of the U.S.