Dust storm highlights dry and windy conditions in Grain Belt while flooding persists

A rare May winter snow storm in the eastern mountains of West Virginia dropped eight inches of snow on the Alleghenies. 

Elsewhere, the spring weather came in nearly every other form including a deadly start to the week in middle America. 

David Miller reports. 

The dry and windy weather combined to create a massive windstorm in central Illinois on Monday. Seven people were killed along I-55 south of Springfield when almost 60 cars and 30 commercial vehicles collided after a large dust cloud from nearby farm fields created zero visibility conditions.  

Kevin Schott, Montgomery County, IL Emergency Services: “This is a difficult scene, something that is very hard to train for, something that we really haven't experienced locally.”

Drought conditions remain in the Plains.  Nationally, however, the current Drought Monitor shows another week of improvement. 

There were dusty conditions for those rolling the planters this week in the Grain Belt.

Progress is at the five-year average for corn planting with 26 percent of the crop in the ground. 

Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota and Wisconsin remain well off their five-year pace as the soil gets dry enough to allow field work to finally begin.

Soybean planting is 19 percent complete, 8 points ahead of the multi-year average. 

Flooding is still an issue along the Mississippi River. Major flooding can be found from Dubuque, Iowa downstream to Burlington. The Quad Cities Area around Davenport crested this week. Residents near Lock and Dam 14 were still surrounded by the river. The crest here was about a foot below the record - or fifth on the all-time list. 

Davenport’s riverfront landmarks were surrounded by the Mississippi flood waters, but no permanent flood protection is on this side of the river. A double row of Hesco barriers has been put in place to protect the city. 

As the surge of snowmelt flowed downstream, less flooding is forecast and will only prompt minor and moderate levels at St. Louis and points lower.  

Severe weather came in multiple forms in Virginia.  This tornado near Virginia Beach damaged dozens of homes, downing trees and causing gas leaks. 

More than a dozen atmospheric rivers dumped epic snowfall this winter season.  This is causing concern near the Sierra Nevada’s, but the snow melt is also recharging many streams and rivers in the area. According to California weather officials, 80 percent of the Sierra’s snowpack has yet to melt. 

For Market to Market, I’m David Miller.

contact: Paul.Yeager@Iowapbs.org