December 22-31, 2024

Temperature

December ended on a high note, with temperatures above normal across much of the central US. Much of the Midwest was over 10°F above normal for the week (Figure 1). Average temperatures in northern Minnesota were near 15°F above normal for the week.

Minimum temperatures were similarly anonymous, with northern Minnesota roughly 20°F above normal for the week (Figure 2). Elsewhere, minimum temperatures averaged 10-15°F above normal. In Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, the minimum temperature was above 35°F for three consecutive days, December 27-29, for only the fifth time in December since records began in 1888. A station in Tower, Minnesota observed a minimum temperature of 34°F on December 28; this was the third warmest minimum temperature recorded at that station in December since 1895.

Maximum temperatures were also above normal, with widespread anomalies of 8-11°F across the region (Figure 3). Some locations in Minnesota recorded daily high temperatures that were nearly 30°F above normal for late December. In Milan, Minnesota, a temperature of 52°F on December 28 was 27°F above normal for the date. In Windom, Minnesota, a high temperature of 55°F on December 29 was 28°F above normal for the date.

Precipitation/Snowfall

There was a wide variety of precipitation this period, and for most it was near or above normal. From Michigan southward through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and southeastern Missouri, precipitation was over 200 percent of normal (Figure 4). Another belt of 200 percent of normal precipitation was noted along the Mississippi River in Wisconsin and Minnesota southward into most of Iowa. Quite a bit of this precipitation fell as rain, especially south of I-80. Western Ohio, Indiana, southern and eastern Illinois, western Kentucky and southeastern Missouri received over 2 inches of solely rain in many spots. Cleveland, Ohio had its wettest December day since 2013, with 1.32 inches of precipitation.

Snowfall was not widespread this week. The highest totals were associated with lake effect snow in Michigan’s Snow Belt, where 3-6 inches of snow fell early in the week (Figure 5).

Drought

Drought improvements continued throughout December. D2 (severe drought) was removed from northern Indiana by the end of the month. D1 (moderate drought) and D0 (abnormally dry) both improved, especially along I-80 (Figure 6). There were minimal or no changes in drought conditions across the Upper Midwest by month’s end.