Midwest Weekly Highlights - February 8-14, 2014

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Below Normal Precipitation

Precipitation totals were below normal across a majority of the region during the second week of February, with many locations across the southern Midwest only experiencing 25% of normal precipitation (Figure 1). Areas with above normal precipitation (100% to 200% of normal) included portions of Iowa, northern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, and northern Michigan. Weekly totals ranged from 0" in southwest Missouri to upwards of 1" in eastern Kentucky, with much of the region receiving 0.15" or less (Figure 2).

Snowfall totals for the second week of February were within 2" of normal for a majority of the region (Figure 3). The largest departures for snowfall of 6" to 10" above normal were in eastern Kentucky, which resulted from a powerful winter storm on February 12th-14th. Reported snow totals in this area measured 7.5" to 10" (Figure 4), with localized measurements of up to 14". Portions of Upper Michigan also received 7.5" to 10" throughout the week, much of which fell on February 13th (Figure 5). Other areas with significant weekly snowfall measuring 5" to 7.5" include central Iowa, northern Minnesota, eastern Lower Michigan, and eastern Ohio.

Cold Temperatures Continue

Average temperatures were below normal across the Midwest during the second week of February (Figure 6). The central Midwest experienced the largest departures of 17°F to 20°F below normal. Even the areas that were closest to normal (southern Kentucky) were still at least 4°F cooler than average. Very chilly average temperatures of 10°F or less extended as far south as central Illinois and central Indiana (Figure 7).

Snow Depth and Great Lakes Ice Cover

With persistent cold temperatures throughout the week, snow depths of at least 4" remained widespread across much of the Midwest, extending as far south as the southern borders of Indiana and Ohio (Figure 8). The greatest snow depths of 30" to 36" remain in portions of northern Minnesota along Lake Superior and Upper Michigan.

The persistent cold temperatures this winter are also having a big impact on Great Lakes ice cover. As of mid-February, 88% of the five lakes were covered in ice according to data from the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL). Ice cover of this extent has not occurred on the Great Lakes since 1996, when maximum seasonal ice cover was around 85% (Figure 9). Lakes Superior, Huron, and Erie are currently 90-100% ice covered. If cold temperatures persist over the coming days, it is possible that the Great Lakes could approach the record-setting year of 1979, which recorded 94.7% maximum ice coverage.

-MW-