Temperature

Average temperatures were generally 3-6°F above normal for most of the region (Figure 1). Some areas, like much of Missouri, were only 1-3°F above normal, while parts of western Iowa were up to 6°F above normal. Eau Claire, Wisconsin, observed a temperature of 87°F on June 21, which was the warmest daily mean temperature in June since 1991 and the second earliest such observation in the calendar year since records began in 1893.

Minimum temperatures averaged 3-6°F above normal across most of the region (Figure 2). Sioux City, Iowa observed a minimum temperature of 81°F on June 21, which was the warmest minimum temperature in June since records began in 1889. Eau Claire observed a temperature of 80°F on June 21, which was the warmest minimum temperature in June since 1991 and tied for the second warmest minimum temperature in June since 1893.

Maximum temperatures were most above normal to the north and west (Figure 3). In parts of Iowa and Minnesota, maximum temperatures averaged 7°F above normal for the week. On June 21, several locations in Minnesota, including the Twin Cities and St. Cloud, observed their warmest maximum temperatures in June since 2022.

Precipitation & Drought

Precipitation was near to above normal to the south and east, particularly over Kentucky, Michigan, and the Ohio Valley (Figure 4). In Minnesota’s Arrowhead region, it was over 400 percent of normal. In the Kansas City, Missouri area, precipitation was only 50 percent of normal. Some parts of Kentucky and Minnesota received around 4 inches of precipitation this week. Chicago observed 1.86 inches of precipitation on June 18, which marked the wettest June day since 2015.

As of June 17, the US Drought Monitor displayed improvement across all categories (Figure 5). Moderate Drought (D1) was erased from parts of northern Minnesota. Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions were also removed from parts of the Upper Midwest.

June 16, 2025- Minnesota Tornadoes

Several tornadoes were observed across Minnesota on June 16. This included two EF1 tornadoes in Cass and Crow Wing counties. Both tornadoes were rated EF1 with estimated peak winds of 100 mph, and both remained on the ground for at least 10 miles. There were also several funnel clouds and weak tornadoes reported across Otter Tail County courtesy of social media reports.

June 18, 2025- Severe Weather Outbreak

Several hundred straight-line wind reports reaching 70-80+ mph were reported on June 18. Much of these occurred in a line that stretched from Michigan down to Kentucky, and eastward from Illinois to Ohio. One person was injured when a tree fell on a house from straight-line winds in Martin County, Indiana. A 79-mph wind gust in Muncie, Indiana uprooted a tree which fell onto a mobile home. An 81-mph wind gust was reported at Lorain County Airport in Lorain County, Ohio.

There were also several confirmed tornadoes as a result of this outbreak, 14 of which occurred across the National Weather Service (NWS) Central Illinois forecast area. The strongest was an EF2 tornado with estimated peak winds of 125 mph that spent 6.8 miles on the ground in Literberry, Illinois and caused significant damage to a farmstead and flattened corn. Two EF0 tornadoes were confirmed across the NWS Indianapolis forecast area. Three more tornadoes—two EF0 and one EF1—were confirmed across the NWS Cleveland forecast area.