Early in the period a frontal system is expected to enter the West, bringing cold air and heavy precipitation there. A dryline is expected to favor formation of strong thunderstorms from Texas across Oklahoma and Kansas beginning April 20. The western trough is predicted to move eastward April 22-23, accompanied by a strong surface system and strong upper air winds. On the northern flank of this storm, a second episode of heavy rain is expected for the north-central U.S., while to the south, strong thunderstorms are possible in the warm moist air of the storm's warm sector from April 21 through 24. Heavy rain and flooding are likely from the eastern Dakotas eastward to the central Great Lakes April 20-24.
Little relief is likely.
Portions of the Northwest with low mountain snowpack are likely to experience some additional relief during the next two weeks. A Fire Suppression Assistance Grant was approved for the Myakka Complex Fire in Florida, yesterday. The Complex involves four ongoing fires covering more than 5,000 acres in the counties of Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, Desoto and Hardee. The largest of the fires in the complex, the Carlton Reserve Fire, has burned more than 4,000 acres and was reportedly threatening to jump across Interstate 75 as of yesterday. An eight-mile stretch of the highway was closed yesterday forcing rerouting of traffic through the North Port community.