Large Daily Temperature Swings throughout Much of the Midwest

A large majority of Midwestern temperatures were within a degree of normal this week (Figure 1) . The warmest temperatures were in southwestern Minnesota, where temperatures were 2-5°F above normal. Big Stone County, Minnesota recorded an average temperature of 76.1°F, which was 5.1°F above normal. The average temperature map does not explain the full story this week. Above normal maximum temperatures (Figure 2) and below normal minimum temperatures (Figure 3) for a large majority of the Midwest balanced the average temperatures this week. Maximum temperatures in Minnesota, Iowa Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and southern Missouri were over 1-2°F above normal. There were 97 maximum and 48 minimum high temperature records that were broken or tied this week (Figure 4). Minimum temperatures were coolest in the Ohio River Valley with departures 1-6°F below normal. Dubois County, Indiana recorded a low temperature of 43°F on June 29. There were 30 minimum and 1 maximum daily low temperature records that were broken or tied this week (Figure 5).

Variable Precipitation with Rapid Drying

Precipitation totals across the Midwest were highly variable (Figure 6). Locations in Minnesota, eastern Iowa, eastern Kentucky, and Illinois received greater than 0.75 inches. Localized locations received 1 to over 5 inches of rain, which was 75-175 percent of normal precipitation (Figure 7). Sherburne County, Minnesota, recorded 4.61 inches of rain, which was 3.47 inches above normal for the week. 3.03 inches fell on June 24, 2022. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reported that thunderstorms trained over several locations in Minnesota, which led to one report of 11 inches. Other locations, including southern Minnesota, western Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, western Kentucky, and Missouri, were all well below normal rainfall. North-central Ohio, received less than 10 percent of normal rainfall. Ten stations (located in Missouri, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Minnesota, and Michigan) recorded their driest last week of June on record. Stream flows over the past week were well below normal in Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky as a result of the rapidly drying conditions (Figure 8). Streamflow observations in northern Kentucky were less than 10th percentile of normal flow.

Severe Storm Reports

There were 4 tornado, 117 hail, and 205 wind reports across the Midwest this week (Figure 9).

June 22 Athens County, Ohio had reports of substantial tree damage, downed power lines, and rotating clouds. There was an unconfirmed tornado report for this storm. There were 74 wind reports through Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky with reports mainly consisting of uprooted trees and downed power lines.

June 23 There were 28 hail reports with 4 total reports of hail in excess of 2 inches in diameter. Ten wind reports were submitted through Minnesota and Missouri. Large trees were downed.

June 24 There were three tornado reports in Minnesota, with two confirmed touchdowns. The Grand Forks, North Dakota National Weather Service Office surveyed storm damage. The Becker and Wadena Counties tornado was determined to be an EF2 tornado with estimated peak winds of 115 mph. Mahnomen County, Minnesota had an EF1 tornado with winds topping out at 105 mph. One hail report in Pennington County, Minnesota was 2 inches in diameter. Polk County, Minnesota recorded an 88 and 83 mph wind gust associated with thunderstorm winds. Six reports were in excess of 70 mph in Minnesota.

June 25 A wind gust of 70 mph was estimated in Woodford County, Illinois. Several trees and limbs were downed as a result of the storms.

Continued Drought Expansion

The June 28 US Drought Monitor (Figure 10) showed expansion of the abnormally dry (D0), moderate drought (D1), severe drought (D2), and extreme drought (D3) categories. High daytime temperatures with low relative humidity contributed to substantial moisture loss. D0 was expanded in Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota this week. Across the entire Midwest, the land area impacted by D0-D3 increased by 19.62 percent. D1 expanded in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Missouri. Northwestern Iowa also saw the addition of D3 this week. Burn bans were also enforced in selected Kentucky counties.