June 2016
Monthly Overview - June 2016
Warm Temperatures
June across the Midwest region ranked the 18th warmest on record (1895-2016) with an average temperature of 70.7°F
(Figure 1) which was 2.28°F above normal. Missouri ranked 9th warmest on record with a statewide average temperature 3.8°F above normal. Iowa (10th), Illinois (13th), Kentucky (14th), and Indiana (23rd) also ranked among the warmest 20% since 1895. The warmest temperatures in the region were in the southwest with monthly average temperatures as much as 5°F above normal (Figure 2). Slightly below normal temperatures were limited to the northern portions of the Midwest, from northeast Minnesota to Upper Michigan. Temperatures in northern areas of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan dropped to freezing or below on the mornings of the 8th and 9th, with some areas in Minnesota and Michigan experiencing a hard freeze of 28°F (Figure 3). Much warmer temperatures spread across the region over the following week, with the warmest temperatures of the month at many locations recorded between the 10th and the 13th. Temperatures reached triple digits (100°F) in Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, and Missouri during the month. Year-to-date (January to June) statewide temperatures in 2016 rank among the warmest 10% (top 12) on record in all Midwest states except Kentucky (Figure 4).
Wet in Some Areas, Dry in Others
The Midwest was drier than normal in June, ranking as the 26th driest on record (1895-2016) (Figure 5). Missouri recorded its 15th driest June on record with a statewide total at 50% of normal, 2.33 inches compared to a normal of 4.62 inches. The other Midwest states were below normal with the exception of Wisconsin, which had 128% of normal precipitation and ranked as the 28th wettest (5.37 inches versus a normal of 4.21 inches) (Figure 6). Above normal rainfall extended across northern Minnesota, parts of Upper Michigan, nearly all of Wisconsin, southeast Minnesota, northeast Iowa, and northwest Illinois. Further to the southeast, including much of Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio, totals were near normal with totals generally between 75% and 125% of normal. Below normal areas, from 25% to 50% of normal, were common from western Minnesota to Missouri and southern Illinois along with Lower Michigan.
Abnormally Dry and Drought Conditions Spread
June began with no drought in the region and just under 14% of the region classified as abnormally dry according to the May 31st release of the US Drought Monitor. The areas of dryness were mostly in the western half of the region at the onset of the month, with Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Lower Michigan all free of drought and abnormally dry conditions. Areas of abnormally dry, and a few areas of drought, were introduced and expanded as the month progressed. As of the June 28th release, drought covered 3.4% of the region and another 23.6% was abnormally dry. The moderate drought areas included west central Minnesota, southeast Iowa, northeast Missouri, and west central Illinois. Dryness touched all Midwest states except Wisconsin (Figure 7).
Severe Weather
Severe weather was spread across the month of June with the 7th being the only day with no reports of severe weather. Several other days only had a handful of reports but there were also many days with widespread severe weather. All nine Midwest states had multiple days with severe weather reported and six of the states had tornadoes reported in June (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin). The northern half of the Midwest was more active in June than the southern Midwest. Among numerous tornadoes in northern Illinois on the 22nd, were two EF2 tornadoes, one of which near Pontiac, Illinois was responsible for four injuries. A microburst in Kentucky on the 15th killed one, while thunderstorm winds in Minnesota on the 19th caused one death and one injury. Large hail, over 2 inches in diameter, fell from storms, on several days (8th, 19th, 22nd, and 25th) over Minnesota and also one day (15th) over Wisconsin. The largest report was 4 inch hail on the 19th in Minnesota.
Crop Progress
The corn crop in the Midwest was nearly all planted by the beginning of the month and the remaining acres were quickly finished in the first week or so of June. The soybean crop was well over half way planted at the beginning of the month and was nearly all in the ground by the latter part of the month. Corn condition, according to the June 27th National Agricultural Statistics Service, were good or excellent for a majority of the region. Statewide conditions of good or excellent ranged from 86% in Wisconsin to 63% in Missouri and Michigan. Soybeans were similar with good or excellent conditions ranging from 84% in Wisconsin to 57% in Missouri. The warm and dry weather dried out topsoil in the region from the May 30th to June 27th reports, particularly in Missouri (7% to 51% short or very short topsoil moisture) and Michigan (28% to 60%).
-MST and OBK-
The Iowa Climatology Bureau also contributed to this report.
The Minnesota State Climatology Office also contributed to this report.
The Missouri Climate Center also contributed to this report.