October 1-7, 2024

Temperatures

Average temperatures were above normal region-wide. Most places were 2-4°F above normal, with parts of the Ohio Valley and Kentucky Coalfields 4-8°F above normal (Figure 1).

Average minimum temperatures were most above normal to the east, over the Kentucky Coalfields and Ohio Valley. Parts of eastern Kentucky were as much as 10°F above normal (Figure 2). Areas west of the Mississippi were near normal.

Average maximum temperatures were the most anomalous this week, with much of the region 5-8°F above normal (Figure 3). Southwestern Missouri were 10°F above normal. Joplin, Missouri was at or above 91°F for three consecutive days, October 3-5, for the second time October since records began in 1902. Cedar Rapids, Iowa observed a maximum temperature of 90°F on October 5, which was only the 12th time temperatures rose to 90°F or above in October since 1893.

Precipitation/Drought

With a cold front exiting early in the week and high pressure taking control, there was nearly no precipitation. Eastern Ohio received some precipitation to start the week as the cold front exited, but it totaled less than 50 percent of normal precipitation for the week (Figure 4). The rest of the Midwest observed negligible precipitation.

This did not bode well for drought conditions, which had slightly improved during the week prior. Degradations were made across the board in all categories. By October 7, at least 41 percent of the region had entered D1 conditions or moderate drought, up from 28 percent on October 1 (Figure 5).