Midwest Weekly Highlights - October 11-17, 2016

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Fall Heat

Above-normal temperatures were common across most of the Midwest during the period.  Most of Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and western Ohio were 5-8°F above normal (Figure 1).  Most of Iowa and Wisconsin were 2-5°F above normal.  Only a few areas in northwestern Minnesota had temperatures near normal.

A very warm two-day period on October 16-17 heavily influenced the weekly average, as a majority of the region was more than 10°F above normal (Figure 2).  More than 200 daily record minimum temperatures occurred, while over 50 maximum temperature records were broken during the two-day period.  High temperatures reached the upper-80s to near 90°F during the day on October 17 (Figure 3).  Some of the warmest temperatures in the region included 89°F in Kansas City, MO, 91°F in St. Louis, MO, and 92°F at a Missouri Mesonet site in Columbia, MO (Boone County).
 

Dry For Many

Dry fall conditions were common across most of the Midwest this week.  Less than an inch of precipitation fell across Kentucky, Ohio, Iowa and Minnesota (Figure 4).  Wetter conditions were common around the Great Lakes. Reports of one-and-a-half to two inches of rain were common across southwestern Michigan and southeastern Wisconsin through the morning of October 16 (Figure 5). This event played a large part in totals for the week that exceeded double the normal amount in these areas (Figure 6).
 

Harvest Season Ramps Up

Drier weather in the central and southern Midwest allowed farmers to harvest their crops this week.  The corn harvest is either near or ahead of the five-year average in Wisconsin, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky according to the NASS Crop Progress Report for the week ending on October 16 (Figure 7).  The soybeans harvest was also ahead of the five-year average in Ohio (Figure 8).  Wetter conditions in the Upper Midwest so far caused the harvest to fall behind.  The soybeans harvest in Michigan was 17% behind the five-year average, while Wisconsin and Iowa are both 12% behind (Figure 9).  Corn in Minnesota and Iowa was also 12% behind the five-year average (Figure 10).
 

South Bend, IN Tornadoes

Two weak tornadoes touched down near South Bend, IN (St. Joseph County) the evening of October 12.  Both of these tornadoes lasted less than two minutes and were both rated EF-0, with winds of 60-65 mph.  Several trees were uprooted, causing damage to homes and vehicles.  For more information, read the NWS Northern Indiana report.

-BJP-