Above Normal Temperatures, Except for Northern Minnesota

Average temperatures ran above normal for most of the Midwest this week, except for northern Minnesota, where temperatures were near normal to 3°F below normal (Figure 1). Temperatures were the warmest in the Ohio River Valley extending into Michigan, where average temperatures were 4 to over 9°F above normal. In Michigan, Wayne County recorded an average temperature of 79.9°F (11.1°F above normal). Maximum temperatures followed a similar pattern (Figure 2). Max temperatures in northern Minnesota were 1-6°F below normal. Everywhere else, maximum temperatures were 1-6°F above normal with isolated locations in excess of 6°F above normal. As for minimum temperatures, the majority of the Midwest observed above normal temperatures of higher magnitudes (Figure 3). Michigan and eastern Ohio had locations with minimum temperatures in excess of 8°F.

Variable Precipitation

Highly variable precipitation occurred throughout the Midwest this week (Figure 4). Much of Missouri received less than 0.5 inches, which ranged from 5-50 percent of mean precipitation for the week (Figure 5). Heaviest precipitation amounts were measured in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, where many locations received 1.5 to more than 10 inches (175-750 percent of normal precipitation). Howard County, Iowa, received 13.6 inches, which was 12.63 inches above normal for the week. The rest of the Midwest observed 0.5-2 inches. Isolated locations in Kentucky and southern Indiana received up to 2.5 inches (more than 175 percent of mean precipitation for the week).

Severe Weather Continues

There was a total of 6 tornado, 32 hail, and 211 wind reports this week. The tornadoes occurred in Iowa and Illinois. 11 wind reports were in excess of 65 mph, which were observed in Minnesota, Iowa, and Michigan. In Grant County, Minnesota, an 80-mph wind gust was reported.

Drought Monitor Update

Given the precipitation over the past couple of weeks in Iowa and Minnesota, much of the Extreme Drought (D3) category was improved to Moderate Drought (D1) (Figure 6). Additionally, portions of the D1 category were improved to Abnormally Dry (D0). In central Indiana, the D1 was reduced in size (migrated westward) and the D0 was removed in certain areas. From the previous week, the August 31 drought monitor D1-D4 categories improved by 3.3 percent.