June 22-30, 2024

Temperatures

Average temperatures were split across the center of the region this week (Figure 1). An area starting from the Iowa-Minnesota border extending across the Illinois-Wisconsin border to the Michigan border with Indiana and Ohio all averaged less than 1°F from normal this week. Areas north of that line averaged below normal, while areas south of that line averaged above normal. An area in eastern Kentucky and in southeast Missouri averaged 4-5°F above normal, while an area in the western UP of Michigan averaged 4-5°F below normal.

Average minimum temperatures were mostly above normal across the region (Figure 2). Southern Minnesota, southern Wisconsin, and the area where the two peninsulas of Michigan meet all averaged less than 1°F from normal. Areas to the north averaged below normal, with northern Minnesota averaging up to 5-6°F below normal. Areas to the south averaged above normal, with central Kentucky and southern Illinois averaging 4-5°F above normal. There were a total of 159 daily high minimum temperature records that were either tied or broken this week, with a majority of them south and southwest of the Great Lakes (Figure 3).

Average maximum temperatures were also split across the center of the region this week (Figure 4). Areas right along I-80 from northern Iowa through central Illinois, central Indiana, and up to northern Ohio averaged less than 1°F from normal. Averaged Roughly noth of I-80 areas averaged below normal, and south of I-80 averaged above normal. The western UP of Michigan averaged 5-6°F below normal, while southeast Missouri and eastern Kentucky both averaged 5-6°F above normal. A station in Marquette, Michigan had 2 days this past week with maximum temperatures at least 15°F below normal, with a third day 12°F below normal.

Precipitation

Precipitation was prevalent in the northern Midwest region this week (Figure 5). Most of Michigan, Wisconsin, northern Iowa, and parts of Missouri received over 200 percent of their normal rainfall amounts for the week. The bullseye was in the eastern UP of Michigan, where an area received over 400 percent of normal precipitation. Much of Minnesota, central Illinois, central Indiana, and central Ohio received near normal rainfall. The driest areas of the region were in southern Illinois, southern Ohio, and northern Kentucky. They received less than half of their normal rainfall this week. No station across the region received zero rainfall this week, but a few stations ended up close. The Minnesota, Mississippi, and Blue Earth rivers in southern Minnesota all reached levels that hadn’t been reached in at least a year after major flooding occurred on June 24th. The same flooding also caused the failure of the Rapidan Dam in Mankato, Minnesota.

Drought conditions overall worsened across the region this week (Figure 6). More D1 (Moderate Drought) area covers Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. The D1 drought in Missouri has not changed. D0 (Abnormally Dry) conditions now cover more of central Illinois, eastern Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. D0 drought conditions have slightly improved in eastern Iowa, portions of Michigan, and Wisconsin.

Severe Weather

There were 639 storm reports across the Midwest region this week (Figure 7). Among those were 31 tornado reports, over 100 hail reports, and exactly 500 wind reports.

A few of the most notable reports were an EF2 tornado near Janesville and Williams Bay, Wisconsin, on June 22nd. There was a 78 mph wind gust reported near Crescent City, Illinois on the same day. 2.5-3 inch hail was also reported across portions of Iowa on June 25th.