October 15-21, 2025

Temperatures

The entire region observed above-normal temperatures (Figure 1). Across northern Missouri, southern Iowa, and western Illinois, average temperatures were roughly 10°F above normal. Much of the rest of the region was at least 5°F above normal, with the exception of eastern Kentucky and Ohio, where temperatures were generally 2-4°F above normal.

Minimum temperatures followed similar patterns (Figure 2). The highest anomalies were again over northern Missouri, southern Iowa, and western Illinois, where temperatures were 10-12°F above normal. Much of the region was 5-10°F above normal. Minimum temperatures were near to slightly above normal for eastern Kentucky and Ohio.

Maximum temperatures were above normal for the whole region (Figure 3). Maximum temperatures were nearly 10°F above normal across northern Missouri and southern Iowa. Elsewhere, they were generally 5-10°F above normal. In Toledo, Ohio, a maximum temperature of 84°F was observed on October 18, which was the latest 84°F+ observation in the calendar year since 1953.

Precipitation/Drought

Precipitation was varied this week. In western Iowa, western Missouri, and much of Minnesota, precipitation was 50-75 percent of normal (Figure 4). However, in eastern Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan, precipitation was as much as 200-300 percent of normal.

Precipitation during the week led to minor improvements in drought conditions. The most notable changes occurred in Missouri and Illinois, where reductions in D2 (severe drought) were observed — corresponding to the areas that received the greatest rainfall (Figure 5). Despite these improvements, roughly one-third of the region remains in drought, and over 70 percent of the Midwest continues to experience D0 (abnormally dry) or worse conditions.