Last week saw temperatures generally a bit below average, which was a far cry from a year ago at this time when we had a streak of very warm weather, Jonathan
Cohenincluding a record breaking reading of 78 degrees on March 26. Last week was another stormy one, as we saw the heaviest snowfall of the season. This pushed our seasonal total up to 50.5 inches, which is within a few inches of average for this point in the season. Our snow cover briefly tied the high point in the season. Our snow cover briefly tied the high point of the season, which was first reached in late December. The storm, unlike many big ones, was not followed by extreme cold, although clearing skies and light winds on Sunday night, March 23, did briefly bring cold weather on Monday morning. The storm brought more heavy snow to Wisconsin, as Madison’s seasonal total rose about 100 inches, which is more than 20-inches above its previous record.

The outlook is for the active weather pattern to continue into next week. A storm before the weekend will just miss us to the south again, but will bring snow and rain over the weekend as temperatures will be a bit below average. Next week will see a slow warm up which will bring highs back into the 40s and we may even reach 50 degrees again by the middle of the week. There is a continuing chance of mixed precipitation next week, as well.

 By Jonathan Cohen, Prior Lake observer for the Scott County Soil and Water Conservation District