Above Normal Temperatures

This week, average temperatures were near normal to above normal in much of the Midwest (Figure 1). Statewide, Minnesota saw the largest temperature departure (6.2°F above normal) and Kentucky saw the smallest departure (1.7°F above normal). The mean temperature in Cooper County, Missouri was 49.3°F, which was 9.5°F above normal, making that the largest deviation in the Midwest this week. Maximum temperatures followed the above-normal trend, with the largest departures being greater than 8°F in parts of Minnesota, Iowa, and Ohio (Figure 2). On the other hand, average minimum temperatures were at or below normal everywhere except Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, and other isolated locations across the Midwest (Figure 3). This tweet from NWS Green Bay highlights high temperatures in the area from November 26. Overall, this week, there were 30 high maximum and 10 high minimum temperature records broken or tied this week (Figure 4).

Below-Normal Precipitation Continues

Dry conditions continued across much of the Midwest this week, except from southwest Missouri stretching into southeastern Michigan and other isolated locations in Wisconsin and Minnesota (Figure 5). The southern and eastern Midwest received 0.5 inches of precipitation and some locations saw over 2.5 inches (Figure 6). Lawrence County, Missouri, measured 2.75 inches of precipitation this week with 2.28 inches falling on November 27. There were 30 precipitation records broken or tied this week, and most occurred in the southern states (Figure 7). Small improvements were seen in streamflows in the areas that received precipitation (Figure 8).

Heavy Snow in Northwestern Midwest

This week, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula were the only areas to receive substantial snow. The highest totals were seen in a band from southern Minnesota to northern Wisconsin, and in that, 200 percent of normal snowfall totals were reported (Figure 9). Upwards of 8 inches were seen in the far northern Midwest (Figure 10). The highest snowfall totals this week were as follows: 10.8 inches in Ontonagon County, Michigan, 8.4 inches at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport in Minnesota, 7.5 inches in Sawyer County, Wisconsin, and 5.3 inches in Dickinson County, Iowa. There were 19 snowfall records broken or tied this week (Figure 11).

Storm Reports

There were 10 hail and 3 wind storm reports this week (Figure 12). The hail reports occurred in central Kentucky, and one right over the Kentucky/Ohio border, on November 29 where 1-1.5 inch hail was reported. The wind reports all occurred on the eastern border of Ohio on November 27 and caused multiple downed trees.

High Wind

While the only high wind storm reports this week occurred in Ohio, high wind speeds were seen throughout the central and southern Midwest. Tweets from the Louisville and Indianapolis NWS offices showed the highest wind speeds reported in the areas. From the Louisville office area, the peak measured wind speed was 53 mph in Morgantown, and from Indianapolis office area, the highest wind speed was 47 mph in Bloomington. High wind speeds were also observed on November 30, and this tweet from NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory shows the effect of these high winds on the height of waves in each lake. The highest predicted wave height was 24’ for Lake Superior.