Near Normal to Below Normal Temperatures, Except for Michigan and Ohio

Average temperatures were a mix of below-normal, near-normal, and above-normal across the region (Figure 1). Minnesota had the largest temperature departures with most locations exceeding 4°F below normal for the week. Less extreme departures were seen in Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Missouri with many of these states having pockets of near-normal temperatures. Above-normal temperatures were found in the eastern Midwest with Ohio and Michigan averaging 1-3°F above normal. Maximum temperatures ranged from 2-12°F below normal across the northwest (Figure 2). Below-normal maximum temperatures also extended from central Illinois into eastern Kentucky (1-3°F below normal). Above-normal maximum temperatures were observed in southwestern Iowa and northwestern Missouri. Similar to the average temperatures, eastern Michigan and northern Ohio observed above-normal maximum temperatures. A west/east divide in minimum temperatures existed, with below-normal temperatures in the west and above-normal temperatures in the east (Figure 3).

Ohio River Valley and Upper Midwest Receive Above Normal Precipitation

The heaviest precipitation totals fell across the Ohio River Valley with many locations receiving greater than 1-2" of precipitation (Figure 4). Most of this precipitation fell as rain during severe thunderstorms this week. Trigg County, Kentucky, received 5.41 inches of precipitation (4.23 inches above normal) with a single-day maximum precipitation total of 2.78 inches on April 12th. Areas in southern Missouri extending into Kentucky and southern Indiana received over 200 percent of normal precipitation, with isolated locations in excess of 300 percent of normal (Figure 5). The heavy precipitation resulted in stream flows exceeding the 90th percentile this week (Figure 6). The extreme northern Midwest received greater than 2 inches of snow this week (Figure 7), which contributed to the above normal precipitation and higher stream flows. Saint Louis County, Minnesota recorded 9.1 inches of snow. There were 93 stations across the Midwest that either broke or tied daily precipitation records (Figure 8).

306 Storm Reports over April 10-13 Storm Events

A total of 25 tornado, 128 hail, 153 wind storm reports occurred from April 10-13 (Figure 9). Notable reports are below:

April 12 - Preliminary analysis by the National Weather Service confirmed eight tornadoes in Iowa on April 12 (NWS Des Moines and NWS La Crosse). Two tornadoes were confirmed EF-2 rating with one injury reported in Pocahontas County, Iowa. Hail with a 2.5-inch diameter was reported in this storm. Four locations reported wind gusts in excess of 70 mph. Two tornadoes were confirmed in Minnesota on April 12 (NWS La Crosse). An EF-2 struck Mower County, Minnesota, where two people were injured and there was damage to buildings, cars, trees, and powerlines.

April 13 - Preliminary reports confirmed 8 tornadoes in Kentucky (NWS Louisville), with all rated EF-1 or EF-0. No injuries were reported. Most damage occurred to buildings, powerlines, and trees. There were 78 total wind storm reports. Three reports indicated greater than 70 mph winds. Several reports noted damage to buildings, trees, and powerlines.

High Winds Reported across Midwest

It was an exceptionally windy across the region this week. Maximum wind speeds in excess of 30 mph were widespread throughout the western Midwest on April 12 (Figure 10). One station in central Iowa had maximum winds 41-45 mph and a western Missouri station recorded maximum winds from 46-50 mph.

On April 14, many locations across the Midwest experienced maximum wind speeds in excess of 31-35 mph (Figure 11). Several stations in southern Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and into Indiana experienced winds in excess of 41 mph that were not associated with thunderstorms. Battle Creed Executive Airport in Calhoun, Michigan recorded a 66-mph wind gust. Peoria International Airport, located in Peoria Illinois, recorded a 55-mph wind gust.