Midwest Weekly Highlights - January 15-21, 2017

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Continued Wet Weather

Wet conditions were common across the Midwest this week, as many areas had an inch or more of precipitation (Figure 1).  Parts of southern Indiana and central Kentucky had more than two inches.  While lesser amounts fell in Iowa and Wisconsin, the rainfall was more than three times the normal amount (Figure 2).  Over 250 daily precipitation records were broken during the period from heavy rainfall.  Nearly 200 of these occurred through the morning of January 17 (Figure 3).  Warm temperatures during the period led to almost no snowfall in the region. An ice storm from January 13-17 crippled a major portion of the region, however. 
 

Unusually Warm

Temperatures 10°F or more above-normal were widespread across the Midwest in an unusually warm week (Figure 4).  Parts of southern Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky were 15-18°F above normal.  Most of Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota were 12-15°F above normal.  As a result, many daily high maximum and high minimum temperature records were broken.  Over 50 high maximum temperature records were broken on January 20 (Figure 5) and January 21 (Figure 6), where temperatures in the 60s were common across southern parts of the region.  However, minimum temperatures had many more records broken.  Over 180 high minimum temperature records were broken through the morning of January 20 (Figure 7).  Only a few areas in the Upper Midwest had minimum temperatures below freezing through the morning of January 21, and more than 200 high minimum temperatures were recorded, with at least ten records in each Midwest state (Figure 8).
 

Drought Decreases in Missouri

Drought area in Missouri decreased by 20 percent in the January 17 U.S. Drought Monitor (Figure 9).  Rainfall aided in diminishing drought-affected areas in the state from 57 percent to 37 percent.  Abnormal dryness remained virtually unchanged in Missouri, however, with areas in Illinois and Iowa in drought or abnormally dry conditions also staying the same.  An estimated 1.9 million people were living in drought areas in the Midwest.
 

-BJP-