Mostly Below-Normal Temperatures

Temperatures were slightly below normal in most of the Midwest this week. However, Minnesota and a few parts of Iowa, Wisconsin, and Missouri experienced slightly above-normal temperatures (Figure 1). Preliminary statewide data indicated that Ohio, Kentucky, and Minnesota were the most abnormal. Ohio and Kentucky experienced temperatures that were 3.7°F and 2.9°F below normal, respectively. On the other hand, Minnesota experienced temperatures that were 3.6°F above normal. The temperature in New Carlisle, Ohio (Clark County) was 63.9°F, which was 7.3°F below normal for the week. The lowest minimum temperature at this station was 49°F, which occurred on June 17, and two days later, a maximum temperature of 81°F was observed. Despite most of Minnesota remaining warm in comparison to the rest of the Midwest, there were regional differences in the state. Preston, Minnesota (Fillmore County), located in the low southeast part of the state, had a temperature of 61.7°F for the week, which was 5.1°F below normal with a lowest minimum temperature of 35°F on June 17. Meanwhile in the far northern extent of the state, Baudette, Minnesota (Lake of the Woods County), the temperature was 70.1°F for the week, which was 6.9°F above normal. The highest maximum temperature, 93°F, occurred on June 20. Above-normal maximum temperatures (Figure 2) consumed most of Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, and parts of Illinois and Michigan (1-5°F above normal). Minimum temperatures (Figure 3) ran below normal for most of the Midwest, with exception to Minnesota and parts of Iowa. There were 23 daily low minimum and 35 low maximum temperature records that were broken or tied this week (Figure 4).

Slightly Below Normal Precipitation Across Midwest

Most of the Midwest received below-normal precipitation this week, with exception to parts of Kentucky and eastern Ohio. The heaviest rain totals were observed in Kentucky, where many of the stations measured between 1 and 2.5 inches (Figure 5), which was 0.5 to 1.5 inches above normal (Figure 6) or over 125 percent of normal for the week (Figure 7). Cadiz, Kentucky (Trigg County) measured 4.59 inches of rain, which is 3.49 inches above normal, and 3.35 inches were measured on June 19. Overall, there were 23 total daily precipitation records broken or tied this week (Figure 8). It should also be noted that the majority of the Midwest experienced less than 50 percent of normal rainfall. Portions of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota missed out on precipitation.

Various Storm Reports

There were 12 tornado, 58 hail, 81 wind, and 2 high wind preliminary reports in total (Figure 9). All of the tornado reports occurred on June 15 and almost all of them were reported in Ohio, with a few reaching Michigan. Near Greenfield Township, Ohio, a brief EF-0 tornado passed through State Route 61 snapping trees and powerlines. That same day, there were many reports in Michigan of a tornado having taken down trees and powerlines throughout Detroit Beach, Woodland Beach, Baycrest Beach, and Stony Point. Hail also damaged crops in Wells County, Indiana. Wind reports also came with various trees falling across the southeast of Missouri and Ohio.

US Drought Monitor Update

The June 21 US Drought Monitor had nearly a 10 percent increase in Midwest land in at least a Moderate Drought (D1) category. Portions of every Midwest state saw a one-category degredation in the Drought Monitor this week. Portions of Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Missouri also saw locations with one-category improvement. Central Ohio had a rare two category improvement.