June 1-7, 2024

Temperatures

Average temperatures were above normal for the entire Midwest region this week (Figure 1). Areas with the highest departures from normal were in the Michigan UP, northwestern Lower Peninsula of Michigan, and the northern Wisconsin-Minnesota border. These areas were 5-6°F above normal. Areas closest to normal include northwestern Minnesota, southwestern Missouri, and eastern Kentucky. These areas averaged around 1°F above normal. As a state, Michigan was the most anomalous, averaging 3.8°F above normal. Kentucky averaged closest to normal, at 2.2°F above normal.

Average minimum temperatures were also above normal for the entire region (Figure 2). The western UP of Michigan had the highest departure from normal, at 9°F above normal. Southwestern Missouri and southwestern Iowa averaged closest to normal, about 1°F above normal. A station in Marquette, Michigan with 154 years of data averaged 53.9°F for a minimum temperature this week. This was only the 5th time in the last 100 years that the Marquette station averaged a minimum temperature of at least 53.9°F for this week. Another station in the Michigan UP with 136 years of data broke its all-time record for the warmest June 4th minimum temperature, with a value of 59°F.

Average maximum temperatures were not as anomalously warm as the average and minimum temperatures (Figure 3). Northwestern Minnesota averaged 1°F below normal. Northwestern Missouri, northern Ohio, and northeastern Minnesota all averaged 5-6°F above normal. Central Wisconsin, central Illinois to the Illinois-Indiana border, and the upper Ohio River Valley averaged less than 1°F from normal.

Precipitation

Precipitation was centered in two bands across the Midwest region this week (Figure 4). Northern Wisconsin received the most anomalous rainfall, receiving over 300% of normal precipitation. Most of Minnesota and portions of Michigan also received above normal rainfall. More precipitation hotspots were located in southern Missouri, along the Missouri-Kentucky border, and through most of Kentucky. The Iowa-Missouri border received the least rainfall compared to normal, coming in at 10 to 25 percent of normal. Hayward, Wisconsin received 3.04 inches of rain this week, which amounts to over 75% of their monthly normal.

Drought conditions have leveled off throughout the Midwest compared to the last few week’s improvements (Figure 5). The D1 (Moderate Drought) area in northern Minnesota has been removed, as well as minor improvements in Iowa and along the Wisconsin-Michigan UP border. New D0 (Abnormally Dry) areas have been added in northeast Missouri and north-central Illinois. Overall, there are still very low levels of drought across the region that haven’t been seen since June 2020.

Severe Weather

After an active severe weather week last week, this week quieted down. There were 150 storm reports (Figure 6). Almost all of the storm reports–133 to be exact–were wind reports. There were 7 tornado reports and 10 hail reports.

Among the most notable severe weather events were the 4 tornadoes that touched down in Ohio on June 5th. Three of the tornadoes were EF0 strength. One reached EF2 strength and impacted the village of Frazeysburg, Ohio, with estimated winds between 120 and 130 mph. In addition, a home weather station in Dubuque, Iowa measured a wind gust of over 74 mph on June 3rd. On June 7th, the town of Peculiar, Missouri received 2 inch diameter hail.