Warm Temperatures to Start November

The average temperature for November in the Midwest was 39.3°F, which was 0.8°F above the 1991-2020 normal (Figure 1). Temperatures were near normal across the southwestern portion of the region, with warmer-than-normal conditions to the northeast (Figure 2). Statewide average temperatures ranged from 2.2°F above normal in Michigan to 0.4°F below normal in Missouri. Early November had unseasonable warmth regionwide, with over 900 daily high maximum and high minimum temperature records broken or tied from November 1-12. The average fall (September-November) temperature for the Midwest was 0.4°F above normal, with the upper Midwest 1-3°F above normal and the rest of the region near normal (Figure 3).

Variable Precipitation across Midwest November precipitation totaled 2.30 inches for the Midwest, which was 0.24 inches below normal, or 91 percent of normal. Regionally, precipitation was highly variable (Figure 4). Locations across the Ohio River Valley measured 5-25 percent of normal for the month (Figure 5). Flint, Michigan, had the third driest November in 129 years. Across the far upper Midwest, monthly precipitation exceeded 200 percent of normal. Hancock, Michigan (in the Upper Peninsula) had the seventh wettest November in 133 years. Nearly the entire Midwest had snow accumulation during November (Figure 6). Snowfall across the lower Midwest ranged from 0.1-5 inches, which was well above normal (Figure 7). Lake-effected regions had above-normal snowfall fueled by persistent heavy snow mid-month. Monthly totals in lake-effected areas ranged from 10-50 inches. Fall (September-November) precipitation for the Midwest totaled 6.27 inches, which was 2.93 inches below normal (Figure 8). Fall 2022 ranked as the 15th driest for the Midwest since records began in 1895.

Drought Remains

Drought conditions remained fairly steady in geographic scope and intensity throughout November. By month’s end, about 74 percent of the region was abnormally dry or in drought, affecting all nine midwestern states (Figure 9). Severe to extreme drought was denoted on the U.S. Drought Monitor map across the Ohio River Valley, western Iowa, and southern Wisconsin.

High Winds November 4-5

A low-pressure system moved through the Midwest November 4-5, bringing widespread winds of 45-75 mph across Illinois and Indiana. A peak gust of 77 mph was measured in West Chicago, Illinois. In Frankfort, Indiana, a 65-mph gust was reported. These gusty winds downed trees, damaged property, and caused power outages.