Temperature and Precipitation Anomalies.

The course of generally warm conditions that the Midwest has experienced since November continued during February. It was the 12th warmest February in 108 years, the 3rd warmest December through February, and the warmest November through February. The warmth was concentrated in the northern Midwest, with Michigan having its 5th warmest February, and Minnesota and Wisconsin both having their 7th warmest February. The largest temperature anomalies were in western Minnesota, which was 8-10°F above normal, but most of the northern Midwest was 5-7°F above normal, and the southern Midwest was just at the normal level (Figure 1). Precipitation was near normal for the region in February, ranked 54th, but there were strong geographical patterns (Figure 2). Wisconsin and Michigan were visited frequently by low pressure areas, and ranked 9th and 14th wettest in February, while Kentucky had its 12th driest February, at 50% of normal precipitation statewide (Figure 3). Snowfall was plentiful during February in the northern Great Lakes region (Figure 4). The NWS office at Marquette, MI, set new records for both February precipitation (5.35 inches) and snowfall (91.9 inches). The snowfall record was not just for February, but for any single month in Marquette. Many locations from northeastern Minnesota to northen Lower Michigan received 150-300% of their normal February snow totals (Figure 5). However, due to warm temperatures, most of the central Midwest received below normal amounts of snow. Abnormal dryness continued in the far western Midwest in Minnesota and Iowa and did not get worse, but dryness intensified in Kentucky (Figure 6, National Drought Mitigation Center).

Extreme Events and Impacts.

Ice Storm Follow-up, February 1-7.
The communities severely impacted by the end-of-January ice storm continued to clear broken trees and repair electric lines under generally favorable weather conditions. A federal disaster declaration was issued for 33 counties in Missouri on February 6, covering both public and private damage (Figure 29, FEMA). Not only will local governments get assistance, but individuals can apply for grants to cover emergency expenses and Small Business Administration loans for uninsured losses. Hundreds of electrical crews from all over the country converged to places in need like Kansas City, where more than 30,000 customers still did not have power after 7 days. Damage to the public infrastructure alone was estimated at more than $50 M in the Kansas City area. Locations in northern Indiana, northwestern Ohio, and southern Michigan also had to wait 3-6 days for power to be restored.

Heavy Lake Effect Snow, February 23-28.
The first enhanced lake effect period struck on February 23-25, as a clipper system passed by the upper Great Lakes. Marquette, MI, set a new record for precipitation water equivalent on the 24th. Further south in the warm sector, maximum temperature records were set on the 24th at Cedar Rapids, IA, Madison, WI, and Muskegon and Flint, MI. A large low with upper air support was winding up in the southern Plains, and, with cold air in place, an extensive snow storm was possible. However, the storm on the 26th did not live up to the expectations in the central Midwest, as most of its precipitation was in liquid form instead of snow, and the storm itself was weaker than predicted. Chicago and Detroit had prepared for 6-12 inches of snow, but each only received 1-3 inches. There were still enough transportation problems with this storm to cause 200 Northwest Airlines flight cancellations at Detroit, and cause many road accidents in the region. Indianapolis was happy to finish the month with $3.2 M of its $3.6 M snow removal budget unspent so far this winter.

As the low pulled away on the 26th, very cold air came into the region, resulting in record low maximum temperatures in Paducah, London, and Jackson, KY, on the 27th, and a record low minimum on the 28th in London. At the same time, dozen of low temperature records were set to the south of the Midwest. The strong cold flow over the relatively warmer waters of Lake Superior triggered tremendous lake effect snows in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and around southern Lake Michigan. South Bend, IN, received 16.7 inches of snow during the event, distributed over three days from the 25th to the 27th. Marquette, MI, set new records for snowfall (19.4 inches) and precipitation liquid water equivalent (0.83 inches) on the 26th. A small amount of snow on February 28 brought Marquette to an all-time record snow total of 91.9 inches of snow for the month of February; Marquette also set a new record of 5.35 inches of precipitation liquid water equivalent for February. The Upper Peninsula made a nice recovery late in the month from being at the brink of an abnormally dry designation, to being quite flush with moisture in snow packs several feet thick. The month ended quietly, with well below normal temperatures and a small clipper system passing the northern Great Lakes on the 28th.