Temperature

October ended with summer-like warmth across the Midwest as average temperatures soared to over 10°F above normal for most of the region (Figure 1). The most anomalous warmth was in southwestern Missouri, where average temperatures were up to 12°F above normal for the week.

Average minimum temperatures were most anomalous west of the Mississippi River, where they were 6-10°F above normal (Figure 2). Elsewhere, they were roughly 2-4°F above normal, and near normal in the Kentucky Coalfields and eastern Ohio. In many locations during the days prior to Halloween, minimum temperatures did not drop below 70°F, which is 25-30°F+ above normal for most of the region. In St. Louis, the minimum temperature did not fall below 70°F for two consecutive days, October 29-30, which were the warmest minimum temperatures ever recorded this late in the calendar year since 1874. In Des Moines, Iowa, a minimum temperature of 70°F was observed on October 29, which was 30°F above normal and the latest on record. Chicago observed minimum temperatures at or above 67°F for two consecutive days, October 29-30, both of which were over 25°F above normal and the latest on record.

Average maximum temperatures were most anomalous, with much of the region 10-13°F above normal for the entire week (Figure 3). Springfield, Missouri observed a maximum temperature of 87°F on October 22, which was the third latest temperature that warm in the calendar year since 1888. Many spots set daily records 2-3 days in a row, and there were over 1500 high temperature records this week (Figure 4).

**Precipitation/Drought **

Precipitation was lackluster to the east in much of the Ohio Valley, and was much more plentiful west of the Mississippi River (Figure 5). Much of northern Missouri, Iowa, and central Wisconsin observed over 200 percent of normal precipitation. Much of this fell on Halloween, with parts of northern Missouri, Iowa, and Wisconsin picking up over 2 inches on October 31 alone.

By October 29, the drought continued to expand across the Midwest, with nearly 100 percent of the region in drought conditions (Figure 6). D3 conditions (extreme drought) expanded from 5 percent of Missouri to over 17 percent of Missouri. Conditions did not improve anywhere in Ohio, where D4 conditions (exceptional drought) have been present and largely unchanged since summer.

Severe Weather

There were 115 storm reports, 95 of which were wind reports (Figure 7). An EF-0 tornado formed in the area of Quincy, Illinois producing minor structural and tree damage.