Normal, to Below Normal Temperatures Continue except for Minnesota

Normal average temperatures were observed for much of Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin for the week. West of the Illinois-Indiana state line, cooler than normal temperatures were recorded (Figure 1). Average temperatures in Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, southern Wisconsin, and southern Minnesota ranged from near normal to 5°F below normal. The average temperature for Newton County, located in southwestern Missouri, was 75.9°F, which was 4.5°F below normal for the week. As for Minnesota, average temperatures ranged from near normal to as much as 6°F above normal, which occurred in Kittson County, located in northwestern Minnesota. Larger impacts could be seen in the average maximum temperatures (Figure 2). The entire Ohio River Valley into Missouri experienced normal to about 10°F below normal maximum temperatures for the week. Stalled out cold fronts, then a shift to a high-pressure system-dominated pattern from July 16-20th are to blame for the cooler temperatures. To end the week, another cold front progressed southward from Minnesota into the Ohio River Valley keeping the temperatures in check.

Isolated Thunderstorms Lead to Variable Precipitation

Highly variable precipitation was recorded throughout the Midwest (Figure 3). Northern Minnesota received less than an inch of precipitation, with the central part of the state completely missing out on precipitation. Western Iowa also missed out on significant rainfall, receiving less than 0.25 inches. To the east, precipitation ranged from 0.1 to just over 7 inches of preciptiation. Heaviest precipitation amounts were coupled with thunderstorms associated with the previously mentioned frontal systems. Polk County, southwest Missouri, received 7.32 inches of precipitation, which was 6.27 above normal. Given the precipitation amounts, the dry areas were near normal to one inch below normal. Southwestern Missouri stretching into northeast Ohio received the heaviest precipitation, which ranged from 1 to over 6 inches above normal for the week (Figure 4).

Severe Weather

There were 53 preliminary storm reports this week. Two hail events occurred on July 15 in Illinois with hail stones ranging from dime to golf ball size. Wind events totaled 51 reports. Five locations across the Midwest reported 60 mph wind gusts associated with storms with damage ranging from broken tree limbs, downed powerlines and trees, and metal roofing blown off of outbuildings.

Drought Worsens in Minnesota, Others Receive Improvement

Much of Minnesota missed out on significant precipitation. Coupling this with higher temperatures, led to worsened conditions in Minnesota (Figure 5). D3, Extreme Drought, expanded from the previous week. Just over 3% of the Midwest is now classified in extreme drought (D3). Drought conditions were downgraded from a D3 to D2 in southeast Wisconsin/northeast Illinois. Additionally, some improvement occurred to the Abnormally Dry category in the Ohio River Valley.