Above Normal Temperatures in the Southern and Western Midwest

Above normal temperatures were observed in the southern and western portions of the Midwest (Figure 1). Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, southwestern Indiana, and Kentucky, all saw temperatures in excess of 2°F above normal. Redwood County, Minnesota recorded an average temperature of 73.5°F, which was 5.5°F above normal. Their highest maximum temperature of 95°F occurred on June 14. Normal temperatures were observed in central Wisconsin, northeastern Illinois, central-northern Indiana, southern Michigan, and into Ohio. Below normal temperatures lingered in eastern Wisconsin and northern Michigan, where departures were more than 1-2°F below normal. Maximum (Figure 2) and minimum temperatures (Figure 3) follow similar patterns. Much of the western and southern Midwest was over 3°F above normal. There were 99 maximum and 272 minimum daily high temperature records broken or tied this week (Figure 4). By the end of the week, heat indices climbed dramatically. Many stations in the Midwest had heat indices exceeding 100°F (Figure 5). Minneapolis Public Schools closed school and moved to e-learning due to the heat paired with a lack of air conditioning.

Heavy Rains Associated with Severe Thunderstorms

Many areas in the Midwest saw at least an inch of precipitation this week (Figure 6). Lighter amounts were observed in south-central and northern Minnesota, southern Missouri, southern Illinois, southern Indiana, and western-central Kentucky. Southern Missouri extending into Kentucky saw less than 25 percent of normal precipitation this week (Figure 7). Heavier rainfall amounts fell in thunderstorms in northern Missouri, southern Wisconsin and extending into southern Michigan, northeastern Indiana and Ohio. Many of these areas saw more than 150 percent of normal precipitation. Isolated locations in Wisconsin had 175-300 percent of normal precipitation. Tuscarawas County, Ohio measured 3.66 inches of rain, which was 2.63 inches above normal for the week. Heavy precipitation contributed to above-normal streamflows in southern Wisconsin, southern Michigan, northeastern Indiana, and Ohio (Figure 8). Below normal streamflows are still reported in central Illinois, Kentucky, and now northern Wisconsin.

Severe Storms and Derecho

There were multiple days of severe weather this week with a total of 20 tornado, 98 hail, and 577 wind preliminary storm reports (Figure 9). Twenty-nine reports had winds in excess of 74 mph. Events are summarized below.

June 8
Tornadoes were reported in Indiana and Ohio. An EF-1 tornado in Rush County, and an EF-0 tornado in Madison County occurred. No injuries were reported. Damage to trees, structures, and powerlines were reported. There were two EF-2 tornadoes, 2 EF-1, and two EF-0 tornadoes in Ohio. A Meijer distribution center in Tipp City was hit and caused partial collapse of the facility. Hail reports were less than 1.75 inches in diameter. A 69-mph wind gust was recorded in Boone County, Kentucky.

June 12 Two tornado reports were reported for Marshall and Pennington Counties in Minnesota. Marshall County also recorded 2-inch diameter hail and winds in excess of 65 mph. There were 23 total wind reports across the Midwest with several trees, limbs, and powerlines impacted.

June 13 There were 5 preliminary tornado reports in Illinois and Ohio. A supercell moved through downtown Chicago, Illinois prompting evacuations at Wrigley Field. An EF-0 tornado was confirmed. There were hundreds of trees damaged, power outages, and structural damage. O’Hare Airport reported an 84-mph wind gust. A tornado occurred in Richland County, Ohio causing structural and tree damage. A confirmed Derecho (widespread, severe windstorm) occurred tracking from southern Michigan, northeastern Indiana, and into Ohio. There were over 230 wind reports associated with the event. A 98-mph wind gust was observed at the Fort Wayne International Airport, which broke the wind speed record at the station set back in 2012 (91 mph). An 89-year-old tragically died due to injuries sustained from shattered glass related to storm damage in Fort Wayne. There were several wind reports in excess of 90 mph in Ohio. More than 500,000 people were impacted by power outages, which also came prior to excessive heat onset.

June 14 More wind reports occurred in Iowa, MIchigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. A wind gust of 90 mph was recorded in Mills County, Iowa.

Conditions Dry Across the Midwest

Compared to the previous week, additional areas were added to the abnormally dry (D0) category on the U.S. Drought Monitor map (Figure 10). Expansion of the D0 in eastern Illinois and into southern Indiana occurred. Additionally, moderate (D1) and severe (D2) drought expanded in northwest Iowa. There were improvements to the D0 in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.