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Fire Weather Concerns; Record Warmth Spreads

The Plains to the mid-Mississippi Valley continue with warm and dry conditions. Any fires that initiate could spread quickly. The warm temperatures will expand across the Southern Plains into the Southwest where numerous records are expected through the weekend. Meanwhile, a cold front will move southward across the northern Plains and Great Lakes region where some snow will develop this weekend. Read More >

Below are some very rare lake effect Waterspouts. Chris Westcott took these pictures in the vicinity of Lower Brule. The waterspouts are formed from the instability that is created when the air that is associated with the relatively warm open waters of the Missour River interact with the extremely cold air located just above the surface. These type of waterspouts have a very short lifespan and generally dissipate just as quick as they form. Chris said that at one time there were 6 of them.

Wintertime Waterspout