Midwest Weekly Highlights - March 15-21, 2017

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Dry Weather Continues

Dry conditions were common for a second straight week across most of the Midwest (Figure 1).  Little to no precipitation fell across most of Iowa, Missouri and southern Minnesota.  Most of Wisconsin, Illinois and Kentucky also had less than three-fourths of their normal amount (Figure 2).  The only areas with above-normal precipitation were in northern Minnesota and an area from northern Indiana through southwestern Ohio.  Most of the rainfall in Indiana and Ohio came from thunderstorms through the mornings of March 20 (Figure 3) and March 21 (Figure 4).  Some of those thunderstorms were severe and produced hail (Figure 5).  Snowfall was also limited to the Great Lakes Region (Figure 6).  Most areas with snowfall had less than three inches for the period.
 

Temperatures in Transition

Above- and below-normal temperatures were found in different parts of the region, with warmer weather pushing into the western reaches of the region and colder weather holding on in the eastern half (Figure 7).  Most of Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky were 3-5°F below normal.  Temperatures were closer to normal in Illinois, before temperatures swung strongly above normal in Missouri and western Iowa.  Near-normal temperatures were found in eastern Missouri, with areas in western Missouri 6°F above normal.  Record high maximum temperatures were observed in Missouri on March 20 through the morning of March 21, as temperatures reached the mid- to upper-80s across the state (Figure 8).  Further north, most of Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan were within 2°F of normal for the week while parts of northern Minnesota were 2-4°F above normal.
 

Drought Worsens in Missouri

Another dry week in Missouri contributed to a slight expansion of drought conditions across the state in the March 21 U.S. Drought Monitor (Figure 9).  Nearly 80 percent of Missouri was considered in drought, with areas of moderate drought also in southern Iowa and southwestern Illinois.  Most of Missouri has received less than three-fourths the normal amount of precipitation so far this year, with northern parts of the state receiving less than half (Figure 10).
 

-BJP-