Drought Expands, Storm Activity Stays East

What does the rest of April have in store?

If you were looking for a classic La Niña weather pattern, you’d be hard pressed to find something more classic than what we’ve been experiencing for much of the last 6 weeks or so.

Last week we saw severe weather shaded well east from Iowa down to Arkansas and into the southeast. Meanwhile, the traditional Tornado Alley of the Great Plains (northern Texas to the Dakotas) saw wildfires and continued strengthening drought.

Storm reports map valid through Monday of this last week.

While the above map isn’t fully updated with the most recent severe storm activity just yet, the overall tone wouldn’t change. See all of that empty white space over the Great Plains? That’s a sign of a strengthening drought as we continue through Spring.