November 17-23, 2013
Midwest Weekly Highlights - November 17-23, 2013
Deadly Severe Weather Outbreak on 17th
The third week of November started with a day of severe weather for much of the Midwest. A high risk of severe weather (Figure 1) was posted for the day by the Storm Prediction Center covering parts of Illinois and Indiana. Unfortunately, the forecast was verified as widespread severe weather reports plastered several states (Figure 2). Three deadly tornadoes (Figure 3) killed six people in Illinois (Tazewell, Washington, and Massac counties) but injuries and damage were far more widespread. National Weather Service offices compiled extensive reports on the death, injuries, and damage caused by numerous tornadoes rating up to EF4 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. An interesting graphic from the Central Illinois NWS office report showed radar indicated circulation tracks across Illinois and Indiana (Figure 4).
| NWS Chicago |
| NWS Central Illinois |
| NWS St. Louis |
| NWS Indianapolis |
| NWS Northern Indiana |
| NWS Grand Rapids |
| NWS Detroit |
| NWS Cleveland |
| NWS Louisville |
Wet Conditions
Precipitation totals ranged from nothing in parts of southern Minnesota to more than 2" in northern Michigan and along the Ohio River
(Figure 5). Less than normal precipitation was reported in Minnesota, northwest Iowa, and small parts of Missouri and Illinois (Figure 6). The rest of the region had above normal precipitation with 200% to 400% of normal along wide swaths from northern Missouri to Michigan and from southeast Missouri eastward along the Ohio River Valley.
Cool Temperatures
Following the passage of the cold fronts on the 17th
(Figure 7), cooler weather moved into the Midwest. Averages for the 7-day period were near normal in the southern and eastern parts of the Midwest with cooler than normal conditions to the northwest (Figure 8). The coldest temperatures were in northwest Minnesota where readings were 5° to 7° F below normal. Numerous daily record high temperatures were set in many locations early in the week before turning to record lows later.
-MST-