Midwest Weekly Highlights - June 17-23, 2019

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Cool Temperatures Remain

Temperatures were below normal across most of the region for the second consecutive week (Figure 1).  Many areas were 3-5°F below normal.  Kentucky, Ohio and southern Missouri were near normal.  Maximum temperatures were a major contributor to the cooler weather, as sections of Iowa, northern Missouri and northern Illinois were 6-8°F below normal (Figure 2).  More than 80 low maximum temperature records were broken or tied during the period (Figure 3).
 

Heavy Rain in the South

Precipitation was largely concentrated to the southern half of the Midwest during the week (Figure 4).  Northern Missouri and the Ohio River Valley had 3-5 inches of precipitation.  Locally heavier amounts over 6 inches were also reported.  Several of these reports included 7.91 inches near Pattonsburg, MO (Daviess County), 6.77 inches near Stearns, KY (McCreary County), and 8.74 inches near Stendal, IN (Pike County).  A large portion of this rain fell through the mornings of June 22 (Figure 5) and June 23 (Figure 6).  More than 140 daily precipitation records were broken during the period (Figure 7).  Meanwhile much drier conditions were observed across the northern half of the region.  Most of Minnesota, Wisconsin and northern Michigan had less than half the normal amount (Figure 8).
 

Severe Winds

More than 300 reports of strong winds from thunderstorms were reported during the period (Figure 9).  Most of these reports came from the southern Midwest where heavy rain also fell.  Many of these reports occurred on June 21 (Figure 10) and June 23 (Figure 11).  Winds above 70 mph were also common with more than a dozen reports.  A wind gust toppled a tree near Maynard, KY (Allen County) leading to a fatality when it a man’s truck.  Several tornadoes were also reported across the region.  Several EF-1 tornadoes were reported in Kentucky near Herndon (Christian County), Gold City (Simpson County) and near Mt. Arieal (Allen County) on June 21.  An EF-1 tornado was also reported near Birmingham, KY (Marshall County) on June 23.  Small tornadoes and land spouts were also reported in Indiana, Illinois and Minnesota during the week.
 

-BJP-