June 15-21, 2024

Temperatures

Average temperatures were above normal for most of the region this week (Figure 1). Southwestern Michigan had the most anomalous average at 9-10°F above normal. Most of the rest of the region was at least 1°F above normal. The exceptions were the western UP of Michigan, northwestern Wisconsin, northwestern Iowa, and almost all of Minnesota. These areas averaged less than 1°F from normal. Western Minnesota averaged 1°F below normal.

Average minimum temperatures varied much like average temperatures did for this past week (Figure 2). Western Michigan was again the most anomalous, averaging 10-11°F above normal. The entire region averaged 2-3°F above normal, except for northwestern Wisconsin, northwestern Iowa, most of the UP of Michigan, and Minnesota. Western Minnesota once again had the coolest average compared to normal. They averaged less than 1°F from normal. There were a total of 300 daily records that were tied or broken across the region this week for warmest minimum temperature (Figure 3). Most of them were located in the Great Lakes states.

There was a wide range of average maximum temperatures across the region this week (Figure 4). North-central Ohio along Lake Erie had the highest departure from normal, averaging 11-12°F above normal. The Michigan borders to Indiana and Ohio were 9-10°F above normal. Farther away from that area, the average maximum temperatures were gradually closer to normal. The western UP of Michigan, northern Wisconsin, and most of Minnesota were below normal. Western Minnesota averaged 4-5°F below normal. There were a total of 88 daily records that were tied or broken across the region this week for the warmest maximum temperature (Figure 3). Most of these records were in Indiana or Ohio.

Precipitation

Precipitation amounts varied widely across the region as well (Figure 5). Central Missouri into most of Illinois, most of Indiana, western Ohio, and eastern Kentucky received near or less than 25 percent of average precipitation, with large areas receiving no precipitation this week. Portions of eastern Iowa, central Wisconsin, and scattered areas of both peninsulas of Michigan received near normal rainfall. Northwestern Wisconsin, western Iowa, far northwestern Missouri, and nearly all of the state of Minnesota received 200-300 percent of normal rainfall. The western border of Iowa and Minnesota received over 500 percent of their normal precipitation for this week. There were a total of 70 daily precipitation records that were tied or broken across the region this week (Figure 6). Most of these records were in Minnesota. A station in Winnebago, Minnesota recorded over 8 inches of rainfall this week. This value is 160% of the average rainfall that the Winnebago station receives for the entire month of June.

Drought conditions have worsened across much of the Midwest region after the week of limited rainfall (Figure 7). D1 (Moderate Drought) has returned to the region, as a portion of northeast Missouri and a small area in east-central Illinois were added. D0 (Abnormally Dry) drought was also expanded throughout the Midwest. This includes much of central and southern Indiana, portions of central and northeastern Ohio, eastern and northwestern Illinois, southeastern Iowa, and central Michigan. All of Kentucky and Minnesota, as well as most of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Missouri are still in no drought classification.

Severe Weather

There were 342 storm reports this week (Figure 8). A large majority of the storm reports this week were wind reports–304 to be exact. There was one tornado report, and it was reported on June 18th near Dresser, Wisconsin. There were 30 hail reports from the week.

Among the most notable reports were a 74 mph wind gust at the Spencer Municipal Airport in northwestern Iowa in the evening hours of June 21st. There was also hail of 1 inch or greater in size falling in Holt, Michigan on June 20th.