Midwest Weekly Highlights - June 1-9, 2013

Unseasonably Cool Start to June

Below normal temperatures were dominant across the region during the first nine days of June (Figure 1). Portions of Minnesota and western Iowa had the largest departures of 6°F to 8°F below normal while areas further to the east in Ohio and Kentucky had near normal to slightly above normal temperatures. Temperatures in the east were 9°F to 12°F above normal on June 1st (Figure 2), which resulted in a handful of daily record highs. Average maximum temperatures showed the greatest departures from normal, with a large portion of Minnesota and Iowa experiencing daytime highs 9°F to 13°F below normal (Figure 3). There were a few dozen daily temperature records set, many of which were record lows.

Precipitation Varied

June precipitation has varied so far, with a large swath of below normal precipitation stretching from northern Missouri up through Michigan and near to above normal precipitation elsewhere (Figure 4). Other areas with below normal precipitation include northern Minnesota and eastern Kentucky. Precipitation was most abundant in southern Missouri, southern Illinois, and western Kentucky where weekly totals ranged from 3" to 5" (Figure 5), much of which fell on June 1st and 2nd (Figure 6). Several daily precipitation records were broken during the event on June 1st and 2nd, with a handful of these records breaking monthly and all-time precipitation records as well. Above normal precipitation also fell in northeastern Ohio, where weekly totals of 2" to 3" was 150% to 300% of normal.

Thanks to above normal precipitation this year so far, drought conditions are very minimal across the Midwest (Figure 7). Just over 90% of the region is free of drought, with only moderate to severe drought lingering in portions of Minnesota and Iowa.

Field Work Progress and Vegetation Condition

After rainy conditions delayed planting this spring, drier weather has allowed planting to rapidly progress over the last few weeks and corn planting across the region is now almost complete, with a majority of Midwest states near the typical amount planted by this time of year. A majority of the emerged corn crop is either in fair, good, or excellent condition so far as well (Figure 8). Soybean planting is behind in the western half of the region, but farmers have been steadily making progress over the past week.

The cooler spring led to some delays in phenological development of tree fruit this year in Michigan, generally leaving crops several days to weeks behind normal for much of the early growing season. With recent warmer temperatures in Michigan, most tree fruit are in good shape and are now closer to normal growth stages for the date, with at least average if not higher yield potential expected this year. Overall, growers are optimistic following last year's early development of tree fruit in March, which became susceptible and heavily damaged during April freeze events.

Quiet Week for Severe Weather

After a few active severe weather days in late May, early June was relatively quiet in terms of severe weather in the Midwest (Figure 9). There were only a few scattered reports of damaging wind and hail in Missouri, Kentucky, and Ohio and one small EF0 tornado reported in Concord, Minnesota (Dodge County) on June 5th.

-MW-

The Michigan State Climatologist's Office also contributed to this report.