Spring blows in with turbulent weather
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — It’s official — we’ve made it to spring. The first day of the season officially arrived with the spring equinox on March 20, renewing hopes for warmer days, blooming flowers and vibrant green grass.
Most are eager to get outside after a tough winter that included approximately 25 inches of snow falling in St. Joseph. While spring can offer a handful of tranquil days, it’s also the windiest season in the Central Plains and much of the mainland United States, making outdoor activities a bit more challenging. These strong winds are ultimately driven by the jet stream as it shifts north, starting its ascent toward Canada for the summer season.
During spring, warm air from the south pushes back into the region, while cold air from the north lingers, resisting its retreat to central and northern Canada.
When these air masses collide, they often produce powerful low-pressure systems that generate gusty winds. These winds can cover large areas for several hours at a time due to the tight pressure gradient associated with deep low-pressure systems.
The first week of March brought a healthy dose of high winds to the Mid-Missouri River Valley, as a strong low-pressure system brought several hours of 60 to 70 mph wind gusts along with blowing snow.
Just over a week later, another low-pressure system produced an impressive wind field, blowing clouds of dust into Northwest Missouri and Northeast Kansas. Believe it or not, some of the dust originated from Oklahoma and northern Texas as winds of up to 80 miles per hour swept dry soils hundreds of miles northeast. Luckily, wind speeds were a bit lighter locally, topping out at just under 60 mph in St. Joseph.
The same system that brought dust and grass fires to this side of Missouri also spawned the first major tornado outbreak of the season. As of this week, 110 tornadoes have been confirmed from the mid-March outbreak, 11 of those touching down in the southeast quadrant of Missouri.
Aside from windy days and tornado outbreaks, spring is also known for its back-and-forth temperatures. Take this week, for example. On Tuesday, temperatures soared to near 80 degrees before plunging into the low 30s on Wednesday evening and the upper 20s by Thursday morning. The rollercoaster even brought a brief round of snow as another strong low-pressure system moved through the region.
