July 8-14, 2024

Temperatures

Average temperatures varied across the region this week (Figure 1). All of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio, parts of Kentucky and Indiana, and far northern Iowa and Illinois averaged above normal. On the other side, most of Missouri was below normal, and was largely the only area in the region that averaged below normal. The rest of the region was near normal. The eastern UP of Michigan averaged up to 7°F above normal, while central to southern Missouri averaged 2-3°F below normal.

Minimum temperatures had a northeast-southwest trend across the region this week (Figure 2). An area starting from central Iowa, extending southeast through much of Missouri, Illinois south of I-74, and into southern Kentucky all averaged less than 1°F from normal. Northeast of that area averaged above normal, while western Iowa and southern Missouri averaged below normal. Western Iowa averaged 3-4°F below normal. Michigan had the most anomalous averages, with both peninsulas averaging up to 5-6°F above normal. The Sault Ste Marie, Michigan station did not have a day where the minimum temperature was below normal this week, with five of the days having minimum temperatures at least 5°F above normal.

Maximum temperatures also varied across the region (Figure 3). All areas that were impacted by Post-Tropical Cyclone Beryl (the Ozarks of Missouri up through central Illinois, northwestern Indiana, and the southern half of Michigan) had very near or below normal averages. Southwestern Missouri averaged 3-4°F below normal. Outside of that band, the averages became more anomalously warm. Northern Minnesota and eastern Ohio averaged 6-7°F above normal. The passing of Beryl blanketed clouds and rain over much of the region on July 9th and 10th, leading to cooler temperatures. Because of this, over 60 daily records were broken or tied for the lowest maximum or lowest minimum temperature across the region over those two days (Figure 4).

Precipitation

Post-Tropical Cyclone Beryl made a very large difference in the precipitation amounts that were recorded across the region this week (Figure 5). The entire area impacted by Beryl, as well as southern Wisconsin, received 200-500 percent of their normal rainfall for the week. Outside of that band, rainfall was scarce. Northern Minnesota, western Iowa, portions of both peninsulas of Michigan, and eastern Kentucky received less than 50 percent of normal rainfall, with some areas less than 10 percent. A station in Danville, Illinois measured 5.85 inches between July 9th and July 11th. This was the second highest 3-day rainfall accumulation in the past 30 years for that station.

Overall, the drought conditions across the region did not change much from last week (Figure 6). The D0 (Abnormally Dry) conditions in southeastern Iowa were removed, as well as the D1 (Moderate Drought) in both northeastern and southwestern Missouri. Portions of western and southern Illinois, as well as the southern fringe of Indiana, also saw improvements. A small portion of western Ohio into eastern Indiana added an area of D1, as did eastern portions of Ohio. Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and much of Iowa, Missouri, and Kentucky did not change much from last week.

There is one important note to keep in mind. This week’s drought report does not consider the rain brought by Post-Tropical Cyclone Beryl. In the making of these maps, the creators only consider what had fallen up to the Tuesday morning of that particular week. Beryl didn’t reach the Midwest until the afternoon of July 9th, which was a Tuesday. Therefore, next week’s drought report will have considered Beryl’s rainfall.

Severe Weather

There were 392 storm reports this week across the region (Figure 7). The vast majority of storm reports came from either the remnants of Beryl on July 9th, or from lines of storms that followed I-94 through Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois, and continued through Indiana and Ohio on July 13th and 14th.

A few of the most notable storm reports include an EF3 tornado in Mt. Vernon, Indiana that came from Post-Tropical Cyclone Beryl on July 9th. Also, up to 4 inch diameter hail fell in Big Lake, Minnesota on July 14th. A station at the Rochester International Airport in Minnesota measured a wind gust of 81 mph on July 13th.