Heavy Rain in the Southeast; Wintry Mix from the Plains through the Ohio Valley

A storm system will bring a number impacts to the central and eastern US. Heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected in the Gulf Coast and Deep South. Further north, a wintry mix may produce a glaze of ice from the Ozarks/Mid-South east through the Ohio Valley. Accumulating snow is expected from the central Plains east into the Upper Ohio Valley/Lower Great Lakes. Read More >

The image below is a 1000m resolution, "true color" image from the MODIS satellite valid today - 1 February 2012. A couple interesting features noted on the image are described below:

Areas in "brown" are predominantly void of snow. As such - a vast majority of South Dakota is completely snow free! Obviously, this is quite rare for the 1st of February.
The "brown ground" is able to absorb much more solar energy, which allows temperatures to warm. This is a major reason why temperatures have remained above normal.
Residual areas of snowcover (white) are confined to the Black Hills region in western South Dakota and the Glacial Lakes region in northeastern South Dakota.
A large section of Lake Oahe north of Pierre is free of ice (dark blue color). Again, very rare for early February.

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Heavy Rain in the Southeast; Wintry Mix from the Plains through the Ohio Valley

Image of the Day - Satellite Image of a Snow Free South Dakota