Near Normal Temperatures for Entire Region, but East-West Temperature Divide Remained

Midwestern temperatures were near normal for November, but a notable east-west divide was present. The region averaged 38.7°F, which was 0.2°F above normal for the month. In the east, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio were 0.1 to 4.8°F below normal. In the west, Missouri, Iowa and Minnesota were 0.1 to 6.5°F above normal (Figure 1). Michigan and Wisconsin were within 0.5°F of normal. November maximum and minimum temperatures followed a similar spatial pattern as average temperatures (Figure 2 and Figure 3). During November there were 64 high temperature records broken, with most recorded in Iowa (26), Missouri (19), and Minnesota (13). Locations across the lower Midwest (from Missouri eastward to Ohio) recorded the first fall hard freeze (28°F or lower) during the first 10 days of November, which was about 1-3 weeks behind the 1991-2020 median freeze date (Figure 4).

16th Driest November on Record

Precipitation was drier-than-normal during November across most of the Midwest (Figure 5). Only isolated areas in northern Minnesota, northwestern Wisconsin, northern Michigan, and extreme northwest Missouri had above-normal precipitation. Average total precipitation was 1.26 inches, which was 1.28 inches below normal. All nine states had drier-than-normal monthly precipitation totals ranging from 0.74 to 2.21 inches below normal. The area of the most significant departures was southeast Missouri into Illinois, southwestern Kentucky, and Indiana. Illinois had the 9th driest November on record, dating back to 1895 (Figure 6). Despite overall dryness, there were 109 precipitation records broken during November, with the most in Minnesota (35), Iowa (24), and Wisconsin (20). Eighty-two precipitation records were broken on a single day (November 11th).

Mixed Snowfall

November snowfall was mixed across the northern Midwest (Figure 7), ranging from 0.01 inches to 38 inches. Largest totals were influenced by clipper systems and lake effect snowfall in northern Wisconsin and northern Michigan. Locations in northeast Minnesota, northwest Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana received less than half of expected snowfall for November (Figure 8). Locations in northeast Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio saw double or triple the normal snowfall. Gaylord, Michigan (Ostego County, north central Michigan) recorded 38 inches of snowfall during November. Numerous locations across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula recorded 20-35 inches. In northern Minnesota and northern Wisconsin, snowfall totals ranged from 3-15 inches. Northeast Ohio recorded 4-10 inches of snowfall for November. Less than 1 inch of snow fell in Iowa, Illinois, and most of Indiana.

Continued Drought, but Some Improvement

Drought continued to affect portions of the Midwest by late November (Figure 9). Most locations had little change in drought status throughout the last month. On November 30, about 17 percent of the region was in drought, which was a 2 percent improvement compared to early November. The most widespread severe conditions were in northern Minnesota with moderate drought also impacting northern Wisconsin, the northern Illinois-southern Wisconsin border, and isolated areas in Iowa. Abnormal dryness was reported in about 22 percent of the Midwest on November 30, which was about a 4 percent expansion in dryness compared to early November. Most of the expansion in abnormal dryness during November was in Missouri.

Fall 2021 Harvest Update

By late November, corn and soybean harvest was nearly complete across the Midwest. Corn harvest in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin was 6-14 percent ahead of the 5-year average, and all other states were near average for late November. Soybean harvest was slightly behind the 5-year average in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio, but progress accelerated compared to recent weeks due to below average precipitation. Winter wheat emergence was 5 percent ahead of the 5-year average in Missouri and 2-5 percent behind the 5-year average in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. Most of the winter wheat was in good to excellent condition across the region. For more detailed information about crop progress and condition, check out The Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin from the United States Department of Agriculture.