A cold and damp forecast pattern continues for the first part of April. It’s been quite the roller coaster ride recently, with wet, late-season snows coming across southern parts of the region in the past two weeks – and most recently, another spat of heavy rain for all of the Eastern Corn Belt on April 2.

Rain yesterday brought up to 1.5 inches of new precipitation to the region, and everyone got at least a quarter of an inch. South winds ahead of that system took us above normal for our daytime highs, but that likely is the warmest day of the week. From here on out, we likely are relegated to normal and below normal temperatures.

We are significantly colder in this region at midweek over April 3. In fact, we won’t rule out a few snowflakes here and there over the northern third of Indiana and a good chunk of southern Michigan to start April 4; but in general, the region is just cloudy and cold at midweek. Temperatures will be well below normal, and may barely break freezing in far northern areas.

April 5 should be dry over most of the region, and we see some sun trying to return on a larger scale. However, minor moisture will move in over northern Indiana, Illinois and northwestern Ohio overnight Thursday. This likely brings just clouds in most areas, but we will leave the door open to a few flurries and a bit of light snow from US 30 north from sunset April 5 to sunrise Friday morning.

A fast-moving, little wave moves through from the evening of April 6 into Saturday morning, and may bring a dusting of light snow to northern Indiana and Michigan, with additional snows Saturday morning in northeast Ohio.

Then, through the day, as this wave settles south, we can see a few hundredths of an inch to a half-inch liquid equivalent of a mix of rain and snow to areas south of I-70. There is not much moisture here, but it is testament to the cold air, and will give the potential for a bit of a mess as we start the weekend.

April 7 has high pressure in controls across the region, and April 8 looks mostly dry, as well. Cold air to start Saturday will moderate to near normal temperatures for Sunday. South and southeast winds will help with that.

We start next week damp again. Another minor batch of moisture moves through, giving up to four-tenths of an inch of precipitation. There is a chance of some of that coming as a mix of rain and snow from US 24 north; but generally, the rest of the region is looking at a cold rain. This moisture should be to our east by midday April 9, and will strengthen as it leaves.

Ohio could look at significantly higher rain totals for the start of next week. We mention that because a slight change in timing or track could bring higher rain totals back west into Indiana, Illinois and northern Kentucky, so we are going to watch that system closely. As it stands now, the five-day precipitation totals ending April 9 are shown on the map.

April 10-11 look like they want to stay dry, although a few scattered showers to the west in Illinois on Tuesday morning may try and threaten western Indiana briefly before dissipating.

For the balance of our forecast window, a strong low moves over the Great Lakes to finish on April 13. The track right now looks to keep the heaviest moisture over Michigan, but we are leaving the door open for quarter-inch to half-inch of rain across Indiana from April 13-14, as the cold front associated with that northern low sweeps southeast.

We also have a concern that the front will stall over the Eastern Corn Belt near the I-70 corridor for April 15-16, bringing an additional half-inch to 1-inch of rain to the southern half of the Eastern Corn Belt. More data is needed on this event, but it is entirely in the realm of possibility. Looking a bit further out, we are watching another front for closer to the 18th, with additional light rain potential.

Overall, this forecast is active. While the heaviest “single event” rain is behind us – earlier this week – we do see enough light moisture coming with ample frequency, along with rather cold air in the short term, to say that our field work chances through the first half of April are minimal to non-existent. In fact, we likely will start the second half of April with a soil profile a little on the “too wet” side.

Cool temperatures will hinder drying conditions as well, exacerbating the issue.

Ryan Martin is Chief Meteorologist for Hoosier Ag Today, a licensed Commodity Trader and the Farmer Origination Specialist for Louis Dreyfus Company’s Claypool Indiana Soybean Crush Plant. The views and opinions expressed in the column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World.