August 18-24, 2014
Midwest Weekly Highlights - August 18-24, 2014
Rainy Week for a Majority of the Midwest
Precipitation was above normal for a majority of the Midwest during the third week of August, with the exception of Missouri where there was significantly below normal precipitation (Figure 1). For much of the Midwest, precipitation totals were at least 200% of normal. The highest departures of 400% to 750% were in northern Indiana, and western and eastern Kentucky. On the other hand, precipitation in Missouri was only 0% to 50% of normal. Northern Michigan also experienced below normal precipitation on the order of 10% to 50% of normal.
Weekly precipitation totals ranged from 0" in southwest Missouri to 4" to 5" in northwest Indiana (Figure 2). A large portion of the Midwest received at least 1.5" throughout the week, with every day during the week producing significant precipitation for somewhere in the region (Figure 3).
Drought-free areas across the Midwest make up 99% of the region, according to the August 19th Drought Monitor (Figure 4). A small percentage (1%) of the region in southern Missouri and western Kentucky are experiencing Moderate Drought (D1), while an additional 16% of the region is classified as abnormally dry. With the lack of rain and very hot temperatures in southern Missouri this past week, it is not likely that there will be improvement on the August 25th U.S. Drought Monitor. In fact, drought conditions may have worsened in this area.
Streak of Below Normal Summer Temperatures Broken
For the first time since late June, above normal temperatures were widespread across the Midwest during the third week of August (Figure 5). Average temperatures ranged anywhere from 1°F to 7°F above normal, with the highest departures of 6°F to 7°F above normal in southern Missouri, southern Minnesota, and western Wisconsin. The Lake Superior area of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Upper Michigan experienced near normal temperatures for the week. Overall, minimum temperatures were significantly above normal (Figure 6), while maximum temperatures were a mix of above, near, and below normal (Figure 7).
Southern Missouri experienced several days in a row (August 19th-24th) where daily maximum temperatures reached at least 95°F (Figure 8). On the last two days of the week, multiple stations in southern Missouri reported temperatures above 100°F
(Figure 9). The Big Spring Missouri station (Carter County) reported the highest weekly temperature of 105°F on August 23rd, while Protem, MO ((Taney County) reported 104°F on August 24th. 104°F was also reported in Round Spring (Shannon County) and Poplar Bluff (Butler County) on August 25th. This is the first time this summer that widespread temperatures above 100°F have occurred in Missouri, let alone the Midwest.
Severe Weather Reported Daily
The weather this week not only brought rain to the Midwest, but severe weather as well (Figure 10). Severe weather was reported on everyday of the week, and in all nine Midwest states. The majority were high wind reports, but also large hail and a few tornado reports. The tornado reports, all of which reported minimal damage, occurred in August 18th in Medina, Wisconsin (Winnebago County), August 20th in Richmond, Michigan (Macomb County), August 21st in Mountain Lake, Minnesota (Cottonwood County), and August 24th in Granite Ledge, Minnesota (Benton County).
Growing Season Update
The majority of corn and soybean crops are reported in "Good" or "Excellent" condition across the Midwest. For corn (Figure 11), Missouri and Illinois report the highest percentage in good or excellent condition, with Missouri at 83% and Illinois at 82%. Kentucky reports the greatest percentage of corn crop in either "Poor" or "Very Poor" condition at 18%. For soybeans
(Figure 12), Illinois reports 78% in good or excellent, while Missouri comes in second at 76%. Once again, Kentucky reports the greatest percentage in poor or very poor condition at 15%, with Michigan second at 11%.
-MW-
Extension Climatologist for Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant and the Midwestern Regional Climate Center