Midwest Weekly Highlights - August 25-31, 2020

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Warmer for Most

Temperatures were above normal across a large portion of the Midwest during the last week of August (Figure 1). Most of Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Lower Michigan and southern Minnesota were 2-4°F above normal, with some areas of northern Illinois around 5°F above normal. Most of Missouri, northern Minnesota and the U.P. of Michigan were near normal, however. A few of these areas were slightly cooler than normal.
 

Hit or Miss Rainfall

Thunderstorms were scattered across the Upper Midwest and southern Ohio River Valley during the week while the central Midwest was very dry (Figure 2). Amounts over three inches were recorded in central Wisconsin from storms, while, eastern Lower Michigan, eastern Ohio and the southern Ohio River Valley received more than two inches. This was more than twice the normal amount in most cases (Figure 3). Meanwhile, Iowa, Illinois and northern Missouri were very dry, with many of these areas receiving less than a tenth of an inch.
 

Drought Expands Further

Continued dry weather over Iowa, northern Illinois and the central Midwest led to a further extension of drought and abnormally dry conditions in the August 25 U.S. Drought Monitor (Figure 4). More than 12 percent of the region was considered in drought, with nearly 40 percent either abnormally dry or in drought. Severe and extreme drought in western Iowa continued to increase while a small area in southwestern Missouri also was depicted in severe drought.
 

Ohio and Missouri Severe Weather

Storms tracked across Ohio and Missouri during the week, leading to severe thunderstorm winds and large hail (Figure 5). Scattered thunderstorms from August 25-28 led to strong winds that toppled trees and power lines. Hail also fell in Michigan on August 28, which included 2-inch hail near Flushing, MI (Genesee County). Meanwhile, on August 31, strong winds impacted central Missouri that toppled trees and power lines. A 61-mph wind gust was reported in Kansas City, MO.
 

-BJP-