Midwest Weekly Highlights - June 1-7, 2015

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Cooler Start to June

The first week of June provided average temperatures 1 to 3°F degrees below normal across states east of the Mississippi River and 1 to 4°F above normal west of the river (Figure 1).  Observed average temperatures were in the 50s across northeast Minnesota, northeast Wisconsin, and the northern half of Michigan - warming to the mid and upper 60s extending southward across the region.  Southwest Minnesota, much of Iowa and Illinois, the southern half of Indiana and Ohio, along with Kentucky and Missouri all observed average temperatures in the upper 60s (Figure 2). Average high temperatures were in the 70s for much of the region which is near to several degrees below normal for much of the region.  Western Minnesota, northern Iowa, and far southwest Missouri were the only areas with high temperatures above normal (Figure 3). Average minimum temperatures helped moderate the states west of the Mississippi River by being several degrees warmer than normal whereas average minimum observed temperatures in eastern Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and northwest Ohio and Kentucky were 1 – 3°F were below normal (Figure 4). Far northeast Michigan saw average minimum temperatures 5 to 6°F colder than normal.  
 

Wetter in the Northwest, Drier Elsewhere

Portions of Minnesota, the northwest half of Wisconsin, and northwest Missouri were the only locations with above normal rainfall the first week of June (Figure 5).  Elsewhere, observed precipitation was up to 1 inch below normal, with 1 to 2 inches below normal in far southwest Missouri, and a portion of southern Indiana.  This rainfall pattern left much of the region with less than 75% of normal precipitation (Figure 6).   
 

Severe Weather Event June 7th

A cold front passing through the region Sunday June 7th triggered a severe weather event across the Midwest during the afternoon and evening hours. Storms developed across Iowa, northern Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana.  Wind damage was the most reported severe weather hazard.  Heavy downpours with the event resulted in localized flash flood warnings as well. The precipitation from this event is not included in the maps above because precipitation for a given day is reported the following morning (June 8th). Therefore, while Figure 7 is titled June 8th precipitation, Figure 7 is the 24 hour observed precipitation for the day of 7am on June 7th to 7am on June 8th.
 

-OBK-