Temperature and Precipitation Anomalies.

After the warmest November through February in history, the Midwest turned colder than normal during March. While is was only the 29th coldest March in 108 years, this was the first below normal month since October. Some of the northwestern Midwest states that were previously exceedingly warm were now the coldest for the month, especially Minnesota, where temperatures were more than 7°F below normal (Figure 1). The average temperature for March was actually less than the December 2001 average in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. In fact, the March temperature average for Michigan was actually cooler than the January 2002 average. Precipitation was somewhat above normal for the region in March, ranking 28th, but this was largely concentrated in the eastern Midwest, where Kentucky had its 9th wettest March on record (Figure 2). Precipitation exceeded 150% of normal in the northern Midwest, and in the southern and southeastern areas of the region (Figure 3). Snowfall was extensive in the upper Midwest during March (Figure 4). Most of the snow belts in the northern Midwest received more than 200% of normal snowfall for the month (Figure 5). The northern Michigan location of Marquette set new records for snow in March and for the season, finishing March with 300.6 inches of snow for the season. Iowa continued to dry during March, missing out on much of the precipitation falling to the north or southeast (Figure 6).

Extreme Events and Impacts.

Upper Midwest Winter Storm, March 2-3.
The major spring storm on March 2-3 brought 6-12 inches of snow to non-lake-effect areas in the storm track and up to two feet to lake effect zones (Figure 29). The news media reported a total of at least 23 storm-related deaths in the central U.S., mostly due to car accidents. The state of Michigan was especially hard hit. Marquette, MI, ended up with 19.9 inches for the storm, and a record for daily snowfall of 10.4 inches on March 3. Grand Rapids, MI, set records on March 2 for both snowfall (13.6 inches) and liquid water equivalent (1.29 inches). About 80,000 electricity customers lost power in Michigan. Milwaukee, WI, received a record snowfall of 9.4 inches on March 2. In Chicago, which received 10.9 inches of snow for the storm, 153 flights were cancelled at O'Hare and Midway airports, significantly disrupting air transportation. In the wake of the storm, Chicago had its first sub-zero low temperature of the season. Record low temperatures were set on the morning of March 4 at the Quad Cities, Dubuque, and Cedar Rapids, IA; Rockford, IL; South Bend, IN; and Jackson, KY.

Widespread Severe Wind Event, March 8-9.
The second major spring storm on March 8-9 had copious moisture and energy. At one point during the storm, a cold front with thunderstorms extended all the way from Indiana to the Gulf of Mexico (Figure 30, UI Dept of Atmos Sci). Because of the abundance of warm, moist, unstable air, severe weather and rain were most common to the east of the low pressure center, while heavy wet snow fell in northeastern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, and the UP of Michigan (Figure 31). Marquette, MI, once again experienced a record snowfall on March 8, when 9.0 inches fell. This was the sixth daily snowfall record set in Marquette since February 1. The multi-day storm total in Marquette amounted to 20.7 inches from March 7-10. There was also some freezing rain in northern Michigan. There were more than 100 convective severe wind reports on both the 8th (Figure 32, Storm Prediction Center) and the 9th (Figure 33, Storm Prediction Center). One person died in a storm in Lorain, OH, when a tree fell on him.

The most damage from the storm, however, was caused by the severe non-convective winds in the wake of the cold front. Each state in the Midwest reported gusts higher than 50 mph, and most experienced some much higher gusts. Some of the top measured gusts were 52 mph in Missouri, 58 mph in Kentucky, 58 mph in Minnesota, 62 in Wisconsin, 64 mph in Indiana, 68 mph in Iowa, 69 mph in Illinois, 79 mph in Ohio, and 80 mph in Michigan. In Chicago, where winds gusted to 56 mph at Midway Airport, 3 people sitting in their cars were killed when a wind-buffeted scaffold hanging on the Sears tower collapsed and fell to the busy street below. At least 158,000 electricity customers in Michigan lost power in the Detroit Edison system during the wind storm, and 16,000 were still without power two days later. More than 175,000 Consumers Energy customers elsewhere in Michigan also lost power. A 127 year old church steeple was toppled in Detroit. About 104,000 electrical customer in the Cleveland area also lost power when winds reached 63 mph locally. A truck driver died near Kenton, OH, when non-convective winds overturned his tractor-trailer. Many other smaller power outages were reported from Missouri and Minnesota to Ohio and Kentucky, and widespread wind damage occurred to trees, homes, and businesses throughout the Midwest.

Major Flood Damage in Eastern Kentucky, March 16-18.
A major flash flood event occurred in Kentucky during March 16 to 18. Multiple upper air impulses enhanced precipitation along a stationary boundary running south of the Ohio River. Precipitation totals exceeding 4 inches generally and 6 inches locally fell on Arkansas, Tennessee, far southeastern Kentucky, and parts of the Appalachians (Figure 34). River levels rose to records for the date in much of the affected area (Figure 35, USGS). Nexrad storm totals outline the area with the most severe flash flooding quite well (Figure 36, NWS). In Kentucky, flooding was especially severe along the Cumberland River, where the river rose more than 30 feet in one day near Stearns, KY (Figure 37, USGS). Another damage center was located in Harlan County, where the Clover Fork also had significant flash flooding (Figure 38, USGS). Despite the severe damage or destruction of 800 residences, no one was reported to have died in the Kentucky flooded; unfortunately, 7 died in flash floods in Tennessee during the same event. Kentucky state government estimated that flooding caused at least $26.5 M in damage, $19.3 M in private property and $7.2 M in public property. Federal disaster status was granted on April 4 to 24 counties in eastern Kentucky (Figure 39).

Minor Spring Flooding Along the Ohio River, March 29-31.
On the 29th, warmer moister air entered the southern Midwest, triggering widespread showers and thunderstorms south of Iowa and the Great Lakes. An unusually persistent supercell thunderstorm traveled intact from central Missouri to central Kentucky, leaving a number of severe hail and wind reports to indicate its path (Figure 40, Storm Prediction Center). The storm precipitation totals from the radars at St. Louis (Figure 41a, NWS) and Louisville (Figure 41b, NWS) also show the trail of the storm. Fortunately, no deaths or injuries were reported. The rain during the previous weeks and the melting of snow during the last week of March resulted in minor flooding in the moist states of the region (Figure 42, USGS: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky), and the Ohio River did exceed its banks in its lower reaches by up to 10 feet (Figure 43, USGS), but damage was minor. It should be noted, though, that most of this 4 state region is now very wet, and is more susceptible than normal to flash flooding. If wetness persists, it will also impact field preparation for the new growing season.