July 2015
Midwest Monthly Summary - July 2015
Cooler July
The average temperature for July across northeast Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan was between 65 to 70°F (Figure 1). The rest of Minnesota heading southward towards the Ohio River warmed into the lower to mid-70’s, reaching an average temperature between 75 to 80°F upon entering Missouri, the southern half of Illinois, the southern two-thirds of Ohio, and much of Kentucky. These temperatures were for the most part seasonal, with average temperatures 1 to 3°F cooler than normal across the center portion of the Midwest region and temperatures across northern Minnesota and southern Missouri 1 to 3°F warmer than normal on average (Figure 2). The monthly average maximum temperature reduced monthly average temperature with cooler than average maximum high temperatures across a vast majority of the region (Figure 3). Only northern Minnesota really experienced maximum monthly temperatures greater than 1°F from normal. The average minimum temperature for July in the region was above normal in the northern and southern portions of the Midwest region, and seasonal to cooler across the central portion of the region (Figure 4). Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin all experienced average temperatures cooler than normal by about 1°F. Only Kentucky, Michigan, and Minnesota witnessed warmer than normal monthly temperatures, though none by more than 0.6°F. This had the region rank as the 44th coolest July on record.
Another Wet Month
Precipitation in July primarily fell across the southern half of the region – across southern Iowa, west-central Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri, western Ohio, and the southeast quadrant of Minnesota during the month of July (Figure 5). Total rainfall for the month in these areas was 5 inches or more, with pockets of observed rainfall more than 10 inches in south-central Iowa and north-central Missouri, south-central Missouri, and east-central Kentucky. Michigan, most of Wisconsin, and the northern half of Iowa, and the remaining portions of Minnesota generally observed 2 to 4 inches. Those areas recording more than 4 inches of rain were 100 percent of normal or higher for the month (Figure 6). South-central Missouri had a small pocket of monthly rainfall that was 6 to 8 inches greater than the monthly average, resulting in monthly rainfall values being 300 percent or greater than the monthly average. Much of Kentucky saw 200 to 300 percent of average precipitation with all of the state recording 5 inches or more of rainfall for the month. States ranked as having a top ten July on record (1895-2015, preliminary numbers) include: Kentucky (wettest July on record at 9.43 inches), Missouri (3rd wettest July on record at 8.21 inches), and Indiana (7th wettest July on record at 6.05 inches). As a region, the Midwest recorded 5.11 inches of precipitation in July, the 8th wettest July on record.
With June being a record wet month for Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, the total precipitation for the months of June and July had a chance to set records as well. June through July preliminary precipitation totals ranked 2015 as the wettest on record in Illinois with 14.52 inches, 2nd wettest in Indiana at 14.95 inches (wettest was 1958), 2nd wettest in Kentucky recording 14.76 inches (wettest was 1928), 2nd wettest in Ohio observing 12.98 inches (wettest was 1958), 2nd wettest in Missouri recording 15.48 inches, and the 10th wettest in Iowa (Figure 7).
Crop Damage
With July beginning wet across the Midwest states of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio after record-setting June rainfall, crop conditions grew to be a large concern in the regions. Ponding water in fields due to the prolific rainfall conditions and saturated soils had projected monetary losses of crops of over $740 million for Indiana alone (agrinews-pubs.com).
Severe Weather and Flooding
Severe weather remained active in July with numerous tornado and large hail reports through the weeks and a long-lived, severe weather wind storm event on July 12th – 13th, 2015.
The continued rainfall cross the region at the beginning of July resulted in numerous flash flood warnings across Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. Urban and town flooding was common with heavy downpours in cities such as Indianapolis and Columbus, and small towns such as Watseka, Illinois and Portland, Indiana. Small stream and river flooding were also present across much of the central region of the Midwest. July 13th was a deadly day in Kentucky, as flash flood waters claimed the lives of four people near Flat Gap, Kentucky. Numerous homes were destroyed and hundreds of homes affected to some extent. Flood waters from the same storm system claimed the life of one individual in Indiana, as well. July 18th flash flood waters claimed the lives of a pregnant mother and her two children as their mobile home was swept into flash flood waters in Ohio.
-OBK-
Portions of this report were provided by the National Weather Service Indianapolis and the Indiana State Climate Office.