Heat Relief for Central Midwest, Continued High Temperatures for North and South

This past week, the central Midwest saw a break in the heat as average temperatures returned to 0-2°F above normal. However, most of the northern and southern Midwest continued to experience the heat with temperatures ranging up to nearly 8°F above normal, especially in northern Minnesota and southern Missouri (Figure 1). In addition, across the central Midwest, maximum temperatures were near normal to slightly below normal (Ohio and Illinois). In contrast, southwestern Missouri saw maximum temperatures up to nearly 10°F above normal (Figure 2). Most of the Midwest experienced minimum temperatures of 1-4°F above normal, while Minnesota experienced minimum temperatures up to 8°F above normal (Figure 3). There were 28 maximum and 45 minimum daily high temperature records broken, with the majority in the upper and southern Midwest (Figure 4). On July 20, the NWS Office in Paducah, KY tweeted that Cape Girardeau recorded a heat index of 123°F, repeating their heat index record.

Varied Precipitation Brings Rain to Eastern Midwest

Rainfall returned to most of the Midwest, with the heaviest precipitation falling over the eastern Midwest in Ohio, eastern Indiana, and Kentucky. Most of the central Midwest received around 1-1.5 inches, with higher totals reaching up to 4 inches in Kentucky and Ohio (Figure 5). Both of these locations saw more than 150 percent of normal rainfall (Figure 6) and rainfall totals that were in excess of 1 inch above normal (Figure 7). Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and parts of Illinois saw rainfalls up to 2 inches above normal. However, the western Midwest, including Iowa, Missouri and South Minnesota, continued to experience low rainfall totals of less than 0.2 inches. Many of these locations received as little as 2 percent of normal rainfall. Northern Michigan also saw lower rainfall totals accounting for less than 50 percent of normal rainfall. In total, there were 102 precipitation records broken, mainly in Kentucky, Illinois, Ohio, and Indiana (Figure 8).

Storm Reports

There were 4 tornadoes, 22 hail reports (greater than 1 inch), 122 wind reports, and 3 high wind reports (65+ knots) throughout the Midwest (Figure 9).

July 16 - An EF-0 tornado touched down in Pickaway County, OH, just south of Circleville and caused minor property damage. 3 injuries were also reported. Multiple wind reports occurred in southeast Missouri and southern Kentucky.

July 19 - An isolated tornado occurred at 1:42pm near Lancaster, MN in Kittson County that caused minor tree damage and was on the ground for 1.5 miles.

July 20 - Multiple high wind reports occurred in eastern Ohio down through Kentucky due to a powerful thunderstorm that swept through the area. The National Weather Service surveyed and confirmed an EF-1 tornado in Wayne County, OH, with maximum wind speeds of 105 mph.

Changes to Drought Conditions

Drought conditions continued to impact the Midwest this past week. However, drought conditions in the eastern Midwest, particularly in Ohio and eastern Kentucky improved and much of the area is no longer under any drought conditions. The moderately dry (D1), and abnormally dry (D0) drought conditions in the central Midwest, northern Kentucky, and Wisconsin remained mostly consistent with the previous week’s conditions. Moderate drought (D1) conditions expanded in central Michigan and Minnesota. Finally, drought conditions continued to worsen in Iowa and significantly in southern Missouri. The severe drought (D2) area expanded considerably in southern Missouri; total D2 area coverage increased. A small area in southern Missouri, like northeast Iowa, was placed under extreme drought (D3) conditions as well (Figure 10).