Variable Temperatures throughout the Midwest

Below normal average temperatures continued through Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, western Ohio, and parts of Michigan (Figure 1). Cooler temperatures tended to correspond to areas where snow was on the ground, as seen in the US. Snow Depth Image on Feb. 2 2022 (Figure 2). In Minnesota, average temperatures ranged from 2-10°F below normal. St. Louis County, Minnesota, observed an average temperature of –1.1°F, which was 7.2°F below normal. Through Illinois, Indiana, and western Ohio, average temperatures ranged from 1-8°F below normal. In western Iowa and Missouri, average temperatures were 1-7°F above normal, with isolated locations, like O’Brien County, Iowa, reaching 13.2°F above normal. Maximum temperatures in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and western Ohio were 1-7°F below normal (Figure 3). Maximum temperatures in southwest Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, and Ohio were 1-7°F above normal with isolated locations in western Iowa more than 10°F above normal for the week. Minimum temperatures were near normal in most places except for Minnesota, Wisconsin, and much of the Ohio River Valley. Minimum temperatures ranged from 1-9°F below normal with isolated locations in Minnesota over 10°F below normal (Figure 4).

Dryer than Normal Week

The entire Midwest received less than 2 inches of precipitation for the week, with most locations receiving less than 1 inch (Figure 5). Relative to percent of mean precipitation, most of the Midwest received less than 100 percent of normal. Isolated locations in Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan received 75-125 percent of normal precipitation, whereas areas of northern Minnesota and Wisconsin received 125 percent of normal, with limited areas in excess of 300 percent of normal precipitation (Figure 6). Much of the Ohio River Valley recorded less than 25 percent of normal precipitation.

Northern Parts of Midwest Receive Snowfall

Most of the snowfall fell in northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan this week, where snowfall ranged from 1 to nearly 10 inches (Figure 7). Most of these locations received 100-150 percent of normal snowfall (Figure 8). Northern Minnesota, however, received 100-750 percent of normal snowfall. Southern Minnesota, central Iowa, Illinois, southern Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, and eastern Kentucky received less than 1.5 inches. Some locations completely missed out on snowfall, like western Iowa, Missouri, southwestern Illinois, and western Kentucky.

Drought Monitor Update

Most of the February 8th drought monitor remained largely unchanged, with minor expansion of abnormally dry (D0) in Michigan, expansion of D0 in western Iowa, and removal of the Moderate Drought (D1) in Missouri (Figure 9).