July 1-7, 2024

Temperatures

Average temperatures were below normal for almost the entire Midwest region this week (Figure 1). Areas in southeastern Minnesota and western Iowa averaged 4-5°F below normal. Northern Minnesota and much of the Ohio Valley into portions of the southern half of Missouri averaged less than 1°F from normal. Southeastern Kentucky and southwestern Missouri averaged above normal, up to 4°F above normal.

Average minimum temperatures were also below normal for much of the region this week (Figure 2). Western Iowa and central Indiana had the most anomalous averages, coming in 3-4°F below normal. Southwestern Missouri averaged 2-3°F above normal, as one of the few places that averaged above normal this week. The rest of the region averaged below normal. Springfield, Illinois measured a minimum temperature of 49°F on July 1st, which was 17°F below normal. That particular station had only reached 49°F two other times in July over the last 30 years.

Average maximum temperatures varied very similarly to average temperatures this week (Figure 3). Southwestern Missouri averaged 3-4°F above normal, and parts of Kentucky and Ohio were also above normal this week. Much of the Ohio Valley, southern Missouri, and northern Minnesota were near normal; whereas, the rest of the region was below normal. The Minnesota-Iowa-Wisconsin border maximum temperatures were 5-6°F below normal. La Crosse, Wisconsin, recorded a maximum temperature of 68°F on July 2nd. Only one other time in the past 10 years has that station recorded a maximum temperature at or below 68°F in the month of July.

Precipitation

Precipitation was rather sporadic across the region this week (Figure 4). Northern portions of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, as well as southeastern Michigan received less than 25 percent of normal rainfall this week. Central Wisconsin, central Iowa, small portions of southern Indiana and southern Ohio, and much of Missouri received over double their normal rainfall amounts. Columbia, Missouri received over 500 percent of their normal weekly rainfall, coming in at 8.57 inches for the week. 6.92 inches of that rainfall came on July 3rd and 4th, which was the highest 2-day rainfall total for that station in over 115 years.

Drought conditions improved in some places and worsened in others across the region this week (Figure 5). The D0 (Abnormally Dry) conditions improved in Iowa, northern Illinois, northern Indiana, northern Ohio, and eastern Kentucky. Conditions in Michigan and most of the states of Kentucky, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota did not change. D1 (Moderate Drought) conditions worsened in central Illinois, central Indiana, and southeastern Ohio. Missouri cut back some of the D1 drought in the northeast portion of the state, but added a new area of D1 drought in the southwest portion of the state. Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the UP of Michigan remained free from any drought conditions.

Severe Weather

Storm reports were down this week compared to last week. There were 298 storm reports, mostly in the form of wind reports (Figure 6). There were 8 tornado reports, 23 hail reports, and over 250 wind reports. A majority of the reports from this week occurred in either Iowa or Missouri.

Among the most notable reports were an EF1 tornado hitting the Lake George, Michigan area. There was also hail up to 3 inches in diameter that accompanied an EF0 tornado in Cape Fair, Missouri on July 2nd. Microbursts in the Kansas City, Missouri outskirts on the same day caused damage, with one report measuring 89 mph. On July 3rd, 5.50 inches were reported to have fallen in a few hours in Jasper, Indiana, leading to water rescues from a flooded apartment complex.