After dropping from the Gulf of Alaska and cutting across the Intermountain West, a potent spring storm is poised to move onto the Plains. Now centered over northeast Colorado, this storm, energized by the jet stream, is wrapped by strong, counterclockwise winds; ahead of the system, warm, moist air is streaming up from the Gulf of Mexico while, to its north, blizzard conditions are developing across the Northern Plains.
Here in Missouri, the leading edge of the warm air has ignited a line of showers and thunderstorms; rather tame, they are moving off to the northeast and strong, southerly winds will follow as the cold front approaches from the west. Primed with warm, humid air, our region can expect more potent storms and heavy rains tonight and tomorrow. Fortunately, since the system is moving north of our State, we should not receive any significant snowfall or severe cold this time around.
Such Pacific storms are common through the spring, providing vital rains that nourish the varied ecosystems of America's Heartland. Of course, they also bring floods, tornadoes and blizzards.
