Midwest Weekly Highlights - July 1-7, 2020

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July Heat

Temperatures were well above normal across the Midwest during the first week of July (Figure 1).  Areas in northern Minnesota and the northern Great Lakes were 8-11°F above normal, with most of Indiana and Ohio 6-8°F above normal.  Maximum temperatures averaged in the upper 80s and 90s across almost the entire region (Figure 2), with only a few areas in the U.P. of Michigan and northeastern Minnesota in the lower 80s.  Heat Index values over 100°F were common with some stations reaching over 105°F (Figure 3).  More than 70 daily high temperature records were recorded across the Midwest during the week (Figure 4).
 

Limited Thunderstorm Activity

While heavy rain impacted some areas along the mid-Mississippi River Valley and Minnesota, many areas of the Midwest had little precipitation for the week (Figure 5).  Most of Iowa, northern Illinois, northern Ohio and Lower Michigan had less than half the normal amount (Figure 6), with some areas receiving no precipitation.  However, more than two inches of rain fell along the Mississippi River in southern Illinois and Missouri, as well as in western Kentucky and northwestern Minnesota.  Most of this rain fell through the mornings of July 1 (Figure 7) and July 2 (Figure 8).  In total, nearly 50 daily precipitation records were broken across the region (Figure 9).
 

Scattered Severe Weather

Severe thunderstorms were scattered across the region during the week as more than 100 reports of strong thunderstorm winds (Figure 10).  More than a dozen reports of large hail were also reported, along with a few weak tornadoes.  Many of these reports came on July 7 in west-central Minnesota and areas from eastern Iowa through Ohio (Figure 11).  An 83-mph wind gust was reported near Fergus Falls, MN (Otter Tail County).
 

Drought Expands

Areas in drought expanded to Iowa and a small portion of Illinois and Wisconsin in the July 7 U.S. Drought Monitor (Figure 12).  Severe drought was also introduced in northeastern Minnesota, which was the first time severe drought was observed in the Midwest since October 22, 2019 (Figure 13).  Limited to no precipitation during the first week of July increased issues in northern Minnesota, western Iowa, and extreme western Missouri.  Well above-normal temperatures also were a contributing factor.  More than 800,000 people in the Midwest were estimated to be living in drought-affected areas.
 

-BJP-