Midwest Weekly Highlights - May 25-31, 2014

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On the Drier Side

While a large portion of the region saw at least some rain, few received more than 1" (Figure 1). Isolated parts of central Minnesota, western Iowa, southern Wisconsin, northern Illinois, and southern Missouri received as much as 3" to 4" of rain. All in all, most of the region saw less than 50% of normal precipitation, including large areas of no precipitation in northeastern Minnesota, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, northern Michigan, and central Indiana (Figure 2).
 

Above Average Temperatures to End May

Average temperatures across the region ranged from the upper 70's in the extreme southern portion to upper 50's in parts of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and extreme northeast Minnesota (Figure 3). Even though the average temperatures seemed comfortable, the result was a well above normal end to May (Figure 4). The entire region experienced average temperatures at least 3°F to 4°F above normal, with those closest to normal in southern Missorui and eastern Kentucky. The greatest departures from normal were seen in the western parts of the region where temperatures were as much as 12°F above normal in northern Minnesota, with most of Minnesota and Iowa at least 8°F above normal. Departures from normal for minimum temperature mimiced the average temperature departures quite well, while maximum temperature departures were much greater, as much as 14°F to 15°F, in the northern and western parts of the region (Figure 5)(Figure 6).

Even with the last couple of weeks being relatively dry and warm, little change to the regions drought status has ocurred as noted by the Drought Monitor (Figure 7).
 

Scattered Severe Weather

Every state in the region saw at least one severe wetaher report, with the exception of Michigan (Figure 8). While no one day was responsible for the majority of the regions severe weather reports, the 28th of May saw the only two tornadoes for the week. Both tornadoes, designated landspouts, ocurred in Illinois (McLean and Woodford Counties) and were on the weakest end of the severity scale.
 

-ACC-