Midwest Observes Below Normal Temperatures

The Midwest started the new year with widespread colder-than-normal temperatures across the region (Figure 1). Average temperature for the Midwest was 17.9°F, which was 4.6°F below the 1991-2020 normal. This would make it the 28th coldest January on record. All nine states had below normal average temperatures ranging from 2.5°F below normal for Missouri to 6.5°F below normal in Minnesota. Minimum temperatures ranged from 3-10°F below normal across most of the Midwest, with minimum temperatures more than 10°F below normal in the upper Midwest (Figure 2). There were 121 record daily low minimum temperatures during January, with most being recorded in the last 10 days of the month (Figure 3). Maximum temperatures were 1-4°F below normal for most of the region except in Missouri and western Iowa where maximum temperatures were near or slightly above normal (Figure 4).

Below Normal Precipitation

January was drier-than-normal for the Midwest (Figure 5). Average Midwest precipitation was 1.39 inches, which was 0.55 inches below the 1991-2020 normal, or 72 percent of normal (Figure 6). Geographically, precipitation amounts varied throughout the region. Kentucky was the wettest state with 5.07 inches of precipitation, or about 136 percent of normal. Four stations in Kentucky set a maximum monthly precipitation record, including one station with 8.74 inches of precipitation. Wisconsin was the driest state with 0.48 inches, or about 40 percent of normal. Across the region, eleven stations set a record for minimum January precipitation (five in Michigan, two each in Wisconsin and Illinois, and one each in Minnesota and Ohio). Despite the overall dryness, there were 189 daily high precipitation records set in January, with nearly all records having occurred in the first 17 days of the month (Figure 7).

Variable Snowfall in the Midwest

Snowfall varied widely across the region. On the low side, snow totals ranged from 0.01-5 inches across Missouri, southern Illinois, Indiana, and western Ohio (Figure 8), with widespread areas accumulating less than 25 percent of normal for January (Figure 9). Most of Michigan and Wisconsin saw snowfall ranging from 50-75 percent of normal. On the high side, Kentucky and eastern Ohio measured 5-30 inches of snow, with large areas exceeding 200 percent of normal. Above normal snowfall was also seen in southern Minnesota and Iowa where accumulations totaled about 10-15 inches. There were 245 daily high snowfall records set across the region during January (Figure 10).

Drought Lingers

Drought conditions remained steady in January, with essentially no change in the severity or spatial extent of drought or abnormal dryness during the month (Figure 11). About 15 percent of the region was in moderate (D1) or severe (D2) drought, and all drought conditions were confined to the northwest portion of the region. Minnesota and Wisconsin had the most widespread drought conditions, with small patches of drought present in Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri.

New Year’s Day Brings Storms

Severe storms affected Kentucky on New Year’s Day, resulting in 10 tornado reports and 23 severe wind reports (Figure 12). The National Weather Service confirmed 8 tornadoes in Kentucky (3 EF-0 and 5 EF-1). The largest tornado, which occurred north of Campbellsville, was 350 yards wide with a path length of 6.5 miles. Straight line wind damage was reported along a 0.1 mile (0.2 km) by 75-yard (68.6 m) stretch in Thurlow, Kentucky. Winds were estimated at 70 mph with damage to two homes, barns, and trees. Fortunately, no tornado- or wind-related deaths or injuries were reported.