USDA Drought Monitor (4/21): Powerful Spring Storm Delivers Late-Season Snow to Northern Plains

The drought-monitoring period, which began on the morning of April 12 and ended early April 19, featured a powerful spring storm delivering significant, late-season snow from the Cascades and Sierra Nevada to the northern Plains.

High winds and blizzard conditions accompanied the snow, especially across the northern Plains.

Farther south, drought conditions worsened across portions of the central and southern Plains and the Southwest, amid windy, dry conditions.

At times, winds raised dust and contributed to the rapid spread of several wildfires, including the 6,159-acre McBride Fire, which destroyed well over 300 structures after being ignited on April 12 in Ruidoso, NM.

Meanwhile, heavy showers and locally severe thunderstorms swept across the Mississippi Delta and environs, producing widespread rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches or more and causing localized wind and hail damage.

Significant rain fell in other areas, including parts of the Midwest and Northeast.

During the last 24 hours of the drought-monitoring period, rain swept into the Atlantic Coast States, with some wet snow observed across the interior Northeast.

Warm weather prevailed for much of the period in the South and East, while a harsh cold snap engulfed the northern Plains and Northwest.

In fact, an extended spell of chilly weather broadly covered the western U.S., as well as the upper Midwest.