Garden View March 12th.

What a wet past 3 days it has been! 2 low pressure systems moved north from the southern plains. These systems started effecting the area Tuesday March 9th and are lasting through the current day March 12th. They brought a waves of moderate to heavy rain to the area the past few days and even some of the first thunderstorms of the season! The warm rain also brought up all that was left of the dormant spring flowers in my yard and garden by Thursday I had Crocus, Daffodils and Tulips all sprouting up through the dirt, and the spring flowers that were already growing on the south side were getting a nice dose of spring-like rain.

large stream of water rushing down our driveway March 11th.

It was definitely quite an interesting set of systems, which brought a quick end to most of the snow pack at my location and most of the area. These systems brought with them some very mild air. Highs during the day were in the upper 30s to mid 40s, and night lows were well above freezing. Because of this mild air over the cold snow pack it lead to thick fog and drizzle which blanketed the area each time the rain ended, but when it began raining again the fog cleared.

Standing water on our yard March 11th.

These systems did bring quite a significant amount of rain with them. With all 3 days of rain added to together I received 0.60″ of rain. receiving the most rain on the 10th when I pick up 0.35″ It wasn’t a cold rain either. It was a warm, spring-like rain. This rainfall with the melting snow lead to some minor flooding across the area. In my yard we had some standing water in our yard. Ditches were full and there was lots of standing water in fields as well.

First Thunderstorms of the season!

What was left of the snow in the front yard March 12th.

These system brought a lot of firsts to the area. The first full fledged rain of the season, and even the first thunderstorms! at about 11:30AM Thursday a thunderstorm began forming near Menomonie on the leading edge of some moderate rain, at one point the radar even detected possible hail! I would not be surprised if the Star Prairie and Amery got some small hail from this. The storm continued northwest all the way through to the Minnesota boarder and north. At 12:30PM it passed close enough to my southwest, that I was able to hear some of the first rumbles of thunder of the season! The thunder was even loud enough that I was able to hear it from inside the house. It was a welcomed sound! shortly after the storm past heavy rain showers moved into my area

Front yard March 12th.

The snowpack definitely took a very large hit. These systems put a near end to the winter snowpack. On Monday the 8th we started out with 5.50″ of snow on the ground, But the warm rain and thunderstorms were no match for the winter snowpack. We were losing more then an inch per day Wednesday and Thursday! By Friday only a few snow patches remained in my yard less then 1.0 inch, which was one of the more quicker snow melts I’ve seen. and this systems not even over! more light rain and drizzle is expected to continue I think is safe to say, it is likely what is left of the snow in my yard will be gone with in the next couple of days. My forecast below!