Midwest Weekly Highlights - September 8-14, 2016

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Wet Weather

Wet weather affected a large portion of the Midwest in the second week of September (Figure 1). Rainfall totals topped 3 inches at one or more stations in all nine states, with the largest 7-day total of 8.59 inches at a CoCoRaHS site near Anderson, Missouri (McDonald County). Totals were more than twice the normal amount for most of Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana with smaller parts of Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota topping that threshold (Figure 2). The heaviest rains fell in Missouri, where more than 6 inches was reported at dozens of stations. There were also drier areas with some locations receiving less than 0.25 inches. The drier-than-normal areas were along the southern edge of the region and also across central Minnesota into northwest Wisconsin.
 

Mixed Temperatures

Temperatures for the week ranged from 2°F below normal in western Minnesota and northwest Iowa to as much as 6°F above normal in southeast Ohio (Figure 3). Far more of the region was above normal than below normal. Minimum temperatures were above normal for nearly all of the Midwest (Figure 4), while maximum temperatures were above normal only in the eastern and southern reaches of the region (Figure 5). The week experienced a wide range of temperatures with highs in the mid 90s to start the week (Figure 6) and the first freezing temperatures of the fall, in northern Minnesota, as the week came to a close (Figure 7).
 

First Fall Freeze

The first freezing temperatures of the fall season touched the northern parts of Minnesota (Figure 8). Temperatures dropped to the freezing point, or a few degrees below, at about a dozen stations in northern Minnesota on the morning of the 14th.
 

Severe Weather

Severe weather affected the Midwest on the 8th, 9th, and 10th and was mostly in the southern and eastern parts of the region (Figure 9). The majority of the reports were thunderstorm winds, with numerous reports of damage to trees and power lines. Tornadoes were reported in northern Minnesota and in east central Illinois on the 9th. No injuries were reported in the storms but there was some damage to buildings in Illinois.
 

Corn Harvest Gets Started

Early corn harvest had begun and NASS Crop Progress reports indicated that the harvest was running slightly behind the 5-year average in several Midwest states. The exception was in Kentucky, where the corn harvest was slightly ahead of average. Delays were mostly related to wet soils which have kept equipment out of the fields.
 

-MST-