Temperature

Temperatures were above normal for almost the entire region, save a small corner of northwestern Minnesota (Figure 1). Southernmost areas were as much as 14-16°F above normal for the week. Temperatures averaged 5-10°F above normal for much of the Midwest.

Minimum temperatures were above normal by 10-15°F across southern parts of the region (Figure 2). Much of the rest of the region was 5-10°F above normal for the week. In eastern Michigan and northwestern Minnesota, minimum temperatures were near normal.

Maximum temperatures were above normal by 10-15°F in much of Kentucky, southern Illinois, southern Indiana, and southern Missouri (Figure 3). Across the region’s midsection, maximum temperatures were mainly 5-10°F above normal. In South Bend, Indiana, the temperature rose to 76°F on March 6, the earliest date on which a maximum temperature exceeded 75°F in the calendar year since 2000. In West Lafayette, Indiana, the maximum temperature rose to 81°F on March 6, which was the earliest temperature above 80°F in the calendar year since records began at that station in 1944.

Precipitation/Drought

Precipitation was abundant this week with over 500 percent of normal precipitation along I-70 from Missouri to Ohio (Figure 4). Much of the region observed at least 200 percent of normal precipitation. Only across parts of Kentucky and the far northern tier of the region was precipitation below normal for the period. Much of the precipitation was in the form of rain, though some light to moderate snow accumulations occurred across the Upper Midwest and just north of I-70 (Figure 5).

Drought expansions were made in every category from February 24 to March 3 (Figure 6). The largest expansions were in the D0 (abnormally dry) and D1 (moderate drought) categories. In Ohio, D0 expanded to cover over 60% of the state by March 3, a nearly 40 percent increase in coverage since February 24. In Iowa, D1 grew to 43 percent coverage, up over 17 percent from February 24. Michigan was the only state where conditions remained unchanged between February 24 and March 3.

March 6 Michigan Tornado Outbreak

A severe weather outbreak spawned several tornadoes ranging in magnitude from EF0 to EF3 across southern Michigan on March 6. The strongest tornado, an EF3 with maximum winds of 160 mph, was on the ground near Union City, Michigan, for 5.2 miles and caused 12 injuries and 3 deaths. The 3 deaths occurred when the tornado lifted several manufactured homes into the air and tossed them onto the ground. Several vehicles and a 500-gallon propane tank were lifted and tossed by this tornado. An EF2 tornado with peak winds of 130 mph and a path length of 10.7 miles touched down in nearby Three Rivers, causing another 12 injuries. An EF1 tornado with peak winds of 95 mph touched down in nearby Edwardsburg, causing the death of a 12-year-old boy when it hit the home he was inside.