August 2024 Overview – Midwestern Regional Climate Center

Temperature

The average August temperature for the Midwest was 71.3°F, which was 0.4°F above the 1991-2020 normal (Figure 1). Throughout the region, temperatures were largely near normal, with localized pockets of slightly above-normal temperatures (Figure 2). Statewide average temperatures ranged from 0.2°F below normal in Missouri to 1.1°F above normal in Ohio. August started and ended with warm conditions, while mid-month temperatures were cooler than normal for most. During the last week in August, the central and lower Midwest had several days with temperatures in the mid-to-upper 90s, with a few isolated locations in the lower Midwest reaching triple digits. The average summer (June-August) temperature for the Midwest was slightly above normal, with temperatures about 1-2°F above normal in Ohio and eastern Kentucky and near-normal temperatures for the rest of the region (Figure 3).

Precipitation

August precipitation totaled 3.18 inches for the Midwest, which was 0.49 inches below normal, or 87 percent of normal (Figure 1). Precipitation was 1-3 inches above normal across the upper Midwest, northern and south-central Missouri, and northeast Ohio (Figure 4). Precipitation deficits of 2-4 inches were observed in the south-central Midwest, southeast Ohio, and central Iowa. Statewide precipitation totals ranged from 1.14 inches below normal in Kentucky to 0.41 inches above normal in Minnesota. While there were no statewide records this month, some localized areas reported record or near-record precipitation extremes. In Ohio and Minnesota, there were sharp gradients of wet-to-dry conditions. The Akron area, in northeast Ohio, had its 9th wettest August in 132 years with 6.55 inches. In contrast, the Zanesville area in southeastern Ohio recorded its driest August in 125 years, measuring just 0.17 inches of rainfall for the month. Alexandria, in central Minnesota, tied for the 3rd wettest August in 83 years with 7.53 inches of rain. Summer precipitation for the Midwest was slightly above normal overall, with seasonal precipitation 125-175 percent of normal across the northwest decreasing to 50-75 percent of normal across the southeast (Figure 5).

Drought

Drought and abnormally dry conditions expanded and intensified across the region in August, covering about 37 percent of the region by late August, according to the U.S. Drought (USDM) map (Figure 6). The most severe conditions were focused over southeastern Ohio, where intensity reached D4 (exceptional) drought for the first time since the USDM began in the year 2000 (Figure 7). Drought-affected areas in Ohio had poor-quality pastures, farmers were hauling water, cow/calf weaning was earlier than normal, and there was an increased risk of field fires. Elsewhere across the region, abnormally dry conditions and D1 (moderate) drought were sporadic across the region and expanding in coverage to end the month.