Historic Snowfall Coming to Midwest and Plains States

While Midwest states still reel from recent flooding, BAMWX meteorologists say snow is on its way. Before the good weather makes way for bad, here’s what farmers should expect into the next couple weeks.

“The heaviest of the heavy is going to be across northern Nebraska, a good portion of the whole entire southern half of South Dakota, southwestern Minnesota and probably the southwestern third and maybe the far north western parts of Iowa,” Kirk Hinz, BAMWX meteorologist told AgriTalk host Chip Flory on Tuesday.

It’s starting in Idaho and combining with a storm in the Rockies to morph into a “potentially historic blizzard” for mid-April. The storm will bring a minimum of 40 to 50 mph winds from eastern Colorado, northwestern Kansas in to Nebraska, South Dakota and the southern half of Minnesota and into Iowa.

“To put [the snowfall] into perspective you’re going to get more snow in this one system than what they average in the month of April,” Hinz said. “It’s going to be heavy, wet snow, too.”

There will be heavy weight pressure on any buildings. For areas with compromised structures from flooding this could be even more detrimental.

“We’ve been kind of telling clients with cattle or anything outdoors to take preparation,” he said. “It’s a life-threatening kind of deal here.”