Omaha, NE – Rapid snowmelt and fluctuating river levels could become a concern along the Missouri River as a surge of milder air spreads across Nebraska and Iowa before St. Patrick’s Day.
According to NOAA’s 8-14 day outlook issued February 26 and valid March 6-12, there is a 60-70% probability of above normal temperatures stretching from the central Plains through the Midwest and down toward the Gulf Coast. Both Nebraska and Iowa sit within that expanding warm corridor, signaling highs that could trend well above early March averages.
In Omaha and Lincoln, where typical early March highs hover in the mid-40s, afternoon readings could climb noticeably higher. Across the river in Council Bluffs and into Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and eastern Iowa, milder afternoons and warmer overnight lows are expected to limit hard freezes and accelerate the thaw of remaining snowpack.
While the highest precipitation probabilities are focused farther east near the Great Lakes, periods of rain remain possible across the region. Combined with melting snow, that could lead to ponding on roads and gradual rises along the Missouri, Platte, Des Moines and Cedar rivers.
Drivers should watch for standing water along I-80, I-29 and I-35, especially during heavier showers. Residents in flood-prone areas should monitor local river forecasts.
This milder pattern is expected to hold through March 12, with additional updates likely as confidence increases heading deeper into early March.
