Midwest Weekly Highlights - September 24-30, 2017

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Heat Wave Continues

Hot temperatures remained widespread across the Midwest as almost all of the region was above normal (Figure 1).  Northern Ohio, Lower Michigan, eastern Wisconsin and northeastern Illinois were the warmest spots at 8-11°F above normal.  Most of Missouri, eastern Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky were 5-8°F above normal.  Only northwestern Minnesota was near normal.  Maximum temperatures in the upper-80s and lower-90s were widespread on September 24 through the morning of September 25 (Figure 2).  Hundreds of daily high maximum and minimum temperature records were broken or tied (Figure 3).  More than 500 occurred through the morning of September 24 (Figure 4), while nearly 400 fell on September 25 (Figure 5).  Another 200-plus records fell through the morning of September 26 (Figure 6) and another 100 fell on September 27 (Figure 7).  A cold front slowly moved through the region during the week, which slowly caused the record-breaking heat to taper off (Figure 8).
 

Dry for Most, Except Minnesota, Western Iowa

Very little precipitation fell across a majority of the region during the last week of September (Figure 9).  Most of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and eastern Kentucky were completely dry.  Large parts of Lower Michigan, Missouri and Wisconsin also had less than half the normal amount (Figure 10).  Wetter weather was found in western Iowa and Minnesota, where more than an inch of rain fell.  In many cases, this was more than twice the normal amount.
 

Drought Coverage Decreases in Iowa, Minnesota

While rain was sparse across the region, some that fell proved beneficial for several areas in drought.  Drought decreased across northwestern Minnesota and Iowa in the September 26 U.S. Drought Monitor (Figure 11).  Only a small area of moderate drought remained in northern Minnesota, while drought coverage and severity decreased in southern Iowa.  Dry weather in northeastern Ohio led to the introduction of moderate drought, however.  Abnormally dry conditions also increased.  Slightly less than nine percent of the Midwest was considered to be in drought, with an estimated 7.5 million people living in those areas.
 

-BJP-