Midwest Weekly Highlights - June 10-16, 2014

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Wide Range of Precipitation Across Midwest

A wide range of precipitation totals across the Midwest during the second week of June produced departures ranging from 0% of normal to 750% of normal precipitation across the region (Figure 1). The highest departures of 300% to over 750% of normal occurred in northwest Iowa and northern Minnesota. These areas received weekly totals ranging from 3" to 6" of precipitation (Figure 2). The significant rainfall in northwest Iowa mainly fell on June 14th (Figure 3) and 16th (Figure 4), while in northern Minnesota it fell earlier in the week on June 11th (Figure 5). Areas with the least precipitation were central Iowa (0" to 0.1") and portions of southern Wisconsin (0.01" to 0.1").
 

Below-Normal Temperatures

Average temperatures were near- to below-normal across the Midwest during the second week of June (Figure 6). The greatest departures of 4°F to 5°F below normal occurred in central to southern Illinois, central Missouri, northern Minnesota, and Upper Michigan. Areas with near-normal temperatures include west-central Wisconsin, eastern Kentucky, and eastern Ohio. The last day of the week (June 16th) was the warmest, with 85°F temperatures as far north as northern Wisconsin and Michigan and temperatures between 90°F to 95°F scattered across portions of the southern Midwest (Figure 7).
 

Significant Severe Weather on First and Last Day of Week

The first and last day of the week (June 10th and 16th) produced significant severe weather across portions of the Midwest (Figure 8). On June 10th, the severe weather mainly occurred in eastern Kentucky, where numerous high wind speeds were reported. The highest known wind speed of 65mph was reported in Vox, KY (Laurel County). Damage reports from the high winds in Kentucky include widespread tree and power line damage. There was one tornado rated EF-0 reported in Bloomfield, IN (Greene County) on June 10th as well, but no damage was reported.

On June 16th, significant severe weather occurred across the upper Midwest, mainly across Iowa, southern Minnesota, southern Wisconsin, and northern Illinois. There were 22 tornado reports across 8 counties in Iowa and 2 counties in Wisconsin. In addition, there were 233 high wind reports across the Midwest (highest wind report was 100 mph in Minnesota Lake, MN (Blue Earth County)) and 62 large hail reports (largest hail report was 4" in Humboldt, IA (Humboldt County)).

Growing Season Update

According to the USDA, corn planting is complete and soybean planting is almost complete across the Midwest region. As the corn and soybeans begin to emerge, attention turns to the condition of the crops. Currently, a majority of corn and soybean crop across the Midwest is rated as in "Good" condition, with only a small percentage reported as "Poor" or "Very Poor" (Figure 9) (Figure 10). For some areas of the Midwest, rainfall has been so abundant so far this summer that short-term dry conditions would benefit crop growth.

-MW-
Extension Climatologist for Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant and the Midwestern Regional Climate Center