Colder Weather Returns

After a significantly warm first week of March for most, the entire Midwest experienced below normal temperatures during the second week (Figure 1). Temperatures were 1-9°F below normal with isolated locations in southern Iowa, Missouri, northern Wisconsin, and northern Minnesota in excess of 9°F below normal. St. Louis County, Minnesota, observed an average temperature of 2.4°F. This was 17.5°F below normal for the week. The eastern Midwest experienced the less severe departures. Similar trends in the maximum temperatures (Figure 2) and minimum temperatures were observed, but larger departures in minimum temperatures were observed in the western Midwest (Figure 3). There were 65 low minimum and 129 low maximum daily temperature records broken or tied this week (Figure 4).

Near Normal to Slightly Below Normal Precipitation for Most, Above Normal in the East

Compared to last week, precipitation was not as widespread (Figure 5). Many areas received less than an inch of precipitation this week. Still, there were also areas in southern Minnesota, Iowa, and southern Illinois that missed out on any precipitation (less than 50% of normal precipitation (Figure 6). The heaviest precipitation amounts fell in Kentucky, stretching through eastern Ohio, where 1-1.5 inches were received. About 1.5 inches to just over 2 inches fell in southeastern Kentucky. Greenup County, Kentucky, received 2.08 inches of precipitation, which was 1.16 inches above normal for the week. Given the previous week's precipitation, very minimal changes in regional drought status were observed. No severe storms were reported after a busy couple of days last week.

Snow Returns to Lower Midwest

Snow returned to the southern Ohio River Valley this week, where 3-6 inches fell (isolated areas with up to 9 inches) from Kentucky to eastern Ohio (Figure 7). Greenup County, Kentucky, measured 8.7 inches of snow, which was 7.5 inches above normal. Another band of snowfall occurred stretching from western Missouri into Michigan. Heavier amounts were recorded in Missouri where widespread 3-5 inches were recorded with isolated 6-inch snowfall totals. To the northeast, much of central Illinois received 1-3 inches and isolated locations received 4 inches. Similar totals were observed in Michigan. There were 77 daily snowfall records broken or tied this week (Figure 8).