**November 1-7, 2024 **

Temperature

Average temperatures started off quite anomalous, with Kentucky, Ohio, and southern Indiana at least 10°F above normal for the week (Figure 1). Heading west, most states were at least 5°F above normal for the week. In Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, a station with 81 years of records observed its warmest start to November on record with an average temperature of 66°F, 12°F above the normal average temperature.

Minimum temperatures were as much as 12-14°F above normal in Kentucky (Figure 2). They were generally 6-10°F above normal for the rest of the region. Indianapolis observed two consecutive days of minimum temperatures at 63°F for the first time in November since records began in 1871, in addition to tying the record for the warmest November minimum temperature on record. In Scottsville, Kentucky, a station observed 2 consecutive days of minimum temperatures at or above 64°F for the first time in November since records began in 1946. Lexington, Kentucky observed a minimum temperature of 67°f on November 6, which was the warmest minimum temperature ever recorded in November since records began in 1872. Of the 521 daily high temperature records this week, 422 were record high minimum temperatures (Figure 3).

Maximum temperatures averaged just as anomalous, with much of the Ohio Valley and Kentucky Coalfields over 10°F above normal (Figure 4). Lexington, Kentucky observed a temperature of 80°F or greater for two consecutive days, November 4-5, for only the third time in November since records began in 1872. Cleveland, Ohio observed a temperature of 78°f or greater on November 5 for only the 8th time in November since records began in 1871.

Precipitation/Drought

It was one of the wetter weeks this season, with most of the region receiving well over 100 percent of normal precipitation, save Ohio and eastern Kentucky (Figure 5). In fact, most of Missouri, including St. Louis, central Illinois, and parts of Iowa and Wisconsin were over 400-450 percent of normal precipitation for the week. Total rainfall peaked at over 6 inches for the week in Missouri. St. Louis received 3.75 inches of rain on November 4, and then another 3.89 inches on November 5, both of which rank as two of the three greatest single-day precipitation events in November since 1874.

Significant precipitation helped drought conditions in some areas, particularly west of the Mississippi River (Figure 6). Missouri was a major beneficiary of recent precipitation, as D3 conditions (extreme drought) were entirely removed from the state. D0 conditions (abnormally dry) were removed from the eastern part of the state, including most of the area in and around St. Louis. Some improvements were also made in the Upper Midwest. In the Ohio Valley, conditions worsened, especially in Ohio, which received the least precipitation this past week.

Severe Weather/Flooding Events

There were only 11 storm reports this week—7 tornado reports and 4 wind reports—all the result of a few storms that sparked in Missouri (Figure 7). Two EF-0 tornadoes affected the bi-state area near St. Louis. However, the major impacts from this outbreak were associated with major flooding, with three fatalities as a result. Several rivers in the St. Louis area rose rapidly from below action stage to major flood stage in several hours.