245: Warm Winter, Dry Plains, and the Weather Risks Facing Cattle Country with Gary Lezak

Lauren sits down with Gary Lezak for a grounded look at the winter weather pattern shaping conditions across the CattleUSA region. While much of the Plains has experienced an unusually warm and dry start to winter, Gary explains why this isn’t random and what the long-range cycling pattern says about what’s ahead. From snowpack and moisture concerns to late-winter cold risks and summer heat signals already showing up, this conversation focuses on what ranchers should actually be watching and why this winter still matters.

Links

Weather 20/20 Dashboard Discount⁠ - https://www.weather2020.com/partner/cattle-usa
Substack - https://weather2020.substack.com/
The Global Predictor App ⁠- ⁠https://www.weather2020.com/global-predictor-mobile-app
Youtube⁠ -https://www.youtube.com/@Weather2020
Follow Gary on X ⁠- https://x.com/glezak
CattleUSA Insurance - https://info.cattleusainsurance.com/l/1102253/2025-06-04/288f5m
⁠CattleUSA Website - https://www.cattleusa.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cattleusamedia
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cattleusa.media/
Subscribe to our newsletter - https://www.cattleusadrive.com/
CattleUSA Media - https://www.cattleusamedia.com/
Lauren’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_laurenmoylan/
Lauren’s Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@Showboatmediaco
The Next Generation Podcast Website - https://www.thenextgenag.com/

Takeaways

• Much of the Plains and Rockies have seen a warmer and drier-than-normal winter so far.
• Colorado snowfall is running well below average, raising longer-term moisture concerns.
• Nebraska stands out as a key area to monitor for potential drought expansion.
• Kansas has benefited from rain instead of snow, helping short-term moisture but not snowpack.
• The current weather pattern has been consistent since October and is not random.
• Major weather events are repeating on a roughly 10–11 week cycle.
• This cycling pattern is showing up across the Northern Hemisphere, not just the U.S.
• Anchor ridges are weakening storms in some regions while shifting precipitation types.
• Cold outbreaks and winter storms are still possible later in winter.
• Summer heat risk is already emerging for parts of the Southern Plains.

Chapters

00:00 Winter recap, warm weather, and snowpack concerns
03:30 Dry zones, moisture patterns, and drought risk areas
06:00 The repeating weather cycle and why it matters
09:30 Anchor ridges, storm behavior, and model limitations
12:30 Late winter cold risks and spring outlook
15:20 Wrap-up and what ranchers should watch next

weather outlook, winter weather, cattle market weather, long range forecast, moisture concerns, drought risk, snowpack, Plains weather, Nebraska drought, Kansas rainfall, Colorado snow, weather cycles, LRC weather pattern, anchor ridge, severe weather outlook, ranch planning, cattle operations, seasonal weather risk