Midwest Weekly Highlights - August 8-14, 2017

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Dry for Most

Dry weather was widespread across the Midwest as many areas received less than a half inch of rainfall (Figure 1).  Parts of Iowa, northern Missouri, southern Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Lower Michigan had less than half the normal amount.  Most of Indiana, eastern Illinois, southwestern Wisconsin, southern Iowa and northern Missouri had less than a quarter of normal (Figure 2).  With fewer storms traversing the region, only a few dozen storm reports were reported, mainly on August 10 in Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois (Figure 3). Minnesota was significantly wetter, however.  More than half of the state recorded 1.5 inches of rainfall or more, which in many cases was more than twice the normal amount.  Much of Minnesota, areas around Lake Superior, southern Missouri, and southeastern Kentucky were also wetter than normal.  Several dozen daily precipitation records were broken, with most occurring in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan (Figure 4).
 

Cool Temperatures Continue

Below-normal temperatures remained widespread across the Midwest (Figure 5).  Missouri, Iowa, Illinois and southern Minnesota were 3-5°F below normal, while Indiana, Wisconsin and the Ohio River Valley were 2-4°F below normal.  Only a small area of northern Lower Michigan and the Eastern U.P. of Michigan were near normal.
 

Drought Expansion Continues in Iowa

A dry first half of August continued to be a factor as drought expanded to more than 40 percent of Iowa in the August 8 U.S. Drought Monitor (Figure 6).  More than 12 percent of the state was considered in severe drought.  According to the August 14 USDA NASS Crop Progress report, only three of the nine-state reporting districts in the state, all in northeastern Iowa, have more than 50 percent adequate topsoil moisture.  Meanwhile, 86 percent of topsoil moisture and 79 percent of subsoil moisture was rated very short in south-central Iowa.  Since July 1, areas in south-central and northwest Iowa have received less than a quarter of the normal amount of rainfall (Figure 7).
 

-BJP-