November 15-21, 2024

Temperature

Average temperatures continued to be above normal this week for the entire region. In the Upper Midwest, temperatures were as much as 10°F above normal, though anomalies were more like 5-8°F for most of the region (Figure 1).

Minimum temperatures also averaged above normal for the week. In northern Minnesota and parts of Michigan, minimum temperatures were 10-12°F above normal (Figure 2). Elsewhere, minimum temperatures were 7-10°F above normal. In Shoals, Indiana, a minimum temperature of 62°F on November 19 was the third latest minimum temperature of 62°F or above at that location since records began in 1908. Gladwin, Michigan observed a minimum temperature of 46°F on November 20, which was the latest minimum temperature at or above 46°F at that station since 2015.

Maximum temperatures were 6-9°F above normal for most of the region (Figure 3). In northern Wisconsin and northern Minnesota, maximum temperatures were over 10°F above normal for the week. There were over 100 record high temperatures this week across the region (Figure 4).

Precipitation

Precipitation was variable across the region, with below-normal amounts in Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio and largely near or above-normal amounts elsewhere (Figure 5). Minnesota and Wisconsin were particularly hit hard by precipitation, so much so that parts of western Minnesota received over 500 percent of normal precipitation for the week.

Some of the precipitation fell as snow, with 1-3 inches in parts of western Minnesota, and another 2-4 inches along eastern Wisconsin and down through Indiana and western Ohio (Figure 6). While accumulations were negligible for most, the snow was wet and slushy which caused hazardous driving conditions across Minnesota on November 20. There were 2 deaths and dozens of injuries due to crashes across the state. In Wisconsin, snow on November 21 fell at a rate of up to 1” per hour, with accumulations up to 3 inches in Greater Milwaukee and a half-foot in Beaver Dam. The same system brought Chicago its first measurable snow of the season, with nearly 3 inches at Chicago O'Hare International Airport.

Drought

There were some improvements in drought conditions this week, largely regarding the removal of D0 (abnormally dry) conditions in Wisconsin and D1 (moderate drought) from western Minnesota (Figure 7). Conditions also improved in parts of Kentucky and Missouri, the latter of which no longer has D1 conditions anywhere in the state. There were some improvements in Indiana and Ohio, but not in the areas that needed precipitation most, like northern Indiana or southeast Ohio.