Mike Peregrine
EF5
Cool thread ... I would probably leave the Gulf where it is, as plenty of moisture advects plenty far to the north as it is (I mean, it goes all the way into the prairie provinces already for goodness sake) ... BUT, what I WOULD do if I could reshape the plains is actually extend a caprock-type formation all the way to the north through OK, KS, NE and the Dakotas to enhance orographic lifting as storm systems clear the rockies and hit the middle of the plains. The plateau would have to rise higher than the high plains but lower than the mountains, of course, but it would no doubt encourage all kinds of crazy lift everywhere ... we'd have some major updraft action if we could get it done ... I say we start hauling in the dirt now!