Monthly Overview - December 2016

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Wet, Dry, Wet from Northwest to Southeast

Precipitation was below normal for most of Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, southern Michigan, and northwestern Ohio (Figure 1). Areas to the southeast were above normal with totals over 8" in southeastern Kentucky (Figure 2), which was nearly twice the normal for the month (Figure 3). In the northwestern parts of the region, totals of 1" to 2" ranged to well more than double the normal monthly totals in northwestern Minnesota. Several hundred daily record precipitation totals were set in December, with most occurring either in the middle of the month or in the last week of December.
 

Cold Snap and Warmth at End of Month Offset

Very cold temperatures mid-month were followed by much above-normal temperatures in the last week of December. The average temperatures for the month were within a couple degrees of normal across the Midwest (Figure 4). Temperatures mid-month plunged to below -10°F in all but Kentucky. In the last week of the month, warmth returned with temperatures above 70° in parts of Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. Hundreds of record lows and record highs were set or tied in December, with most occurring in the cold snap or the warmup discussed above.
 

Snow

Snowfall was above normal in the northern half of the region in December (Figure 5). No measurable snow was recorded from southeastern Missouri, across extreme southern Illinois and Indiana, and for much of Kentucky (Figure 6). Totals in northern Michigan topped 30" near the Great Lakes.
 

Drought Eases

More than 10% of the Midwest was in drought at the beginning of December, with nearly 8% in severe drought or worse, and about 2% in extreme drought (Figure 7). The drought in the region was in and near Kentucky to start the month. Abundant precipitation during December led to lessening of the severity of the drought and elimination of the drought by the end of the month. A couple small areas of drought, just over 1% of the region, were introduced in southern Missouri late in December (Figure 8).
 

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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.