Beautiful sunny afternoon March 6th Des Moines Metro

A look across the area has many people noticing the snowcover is retreating once again across the area. Especially from Des Moines South. I have even seen a difference in snowcover between the North part of Des Moines and the southside of the metro. Snowcover really decreases temperatures because of the reflective nature of the white snow. Exposed Brown grass absorbs light and warms the atmosphere. The difference is usually 10+ degrees when you rid snowcover. Example would be today. Ames which has more snowcover had a high of 34.F today while Des Moines, which has a patchy snowcover now had a high of 39.F.

Regional snowcover

The current snowcover across the Midwest goes from northern Missouri all the way up to the Canadian boarder. In Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, and Illinois the snowcover is light or patchy. Northeast Iowa, Southern Minnesota and Wisconsin has a very thick snowcover. Warmer temperatures this week will melt the snowcover and he snowcover line will be moving northward this week. Mondays highs will range from near 70.F in Kansas City to near 60 here in Des Moines to the middle 40s up towards Rochester,MN I suspect most of Iowa will be snow free accept the North/East 1/3rd

Here in the local area we will go completely snow free by the middle of next week and Spring will really feel like its has started. The entire snowcover will melt across the entire area. I will be watching my garden closely for the 1st official Spring flower, which could bloom next week!

Highs for the area will be in the low to mid 40s Friday, around 33.F Saturday then up to near 50 on Sunday! Monday highs will peak in the upper 50s and I have a feeling some areas will hit 60, especially Des Moines Proper.  Next week highs will remain in the upper 30s to middle 40s each day. Get ready for a very Spring-Like week!