Midwest Weekly Highlights - October 11-17, 2005

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A Quiet Week

A large trough over the western U.S. and  a blocking high over southern Ontario combined to produce quiet conditions over much of the Midwest.  Temperatures continued to be above normal, although not quite as warm as the first ten days of the month.  Average daily temperatures ranged from 1.5°F to 2°F above normal in southern Missouri to 5°F to 6°F above normal from northern Minnesota across northern Wisconsin and northern Michigan (Figure 1).   Temperatures the first half of the month ranged from 2°F  above normal in the western and southwestern portions of the region to more than 7°F above normal in northern lower Michigan (Figure 2).


Harvest Proceeds at Full Tilt with Dry Weather

The week was also dry over most of the region (Figure 3).  Three weak cold fronts pushed through the Midwest during the period, but only the last one on October 17 produced any rain. A band of showers and some thundershowers developed along the front from the Michigan UP south through Wisconsin eastern and northern Illinois.  Rainfall amounts were light, and did little to alleviate existing drought conditions.  The U.S. Drought Monitor for October 11 depicted little change in the area of Extreme Drought across northwestern Illinois and eastern Iowa (Figure 4).  However, the sunshine, warm temperatures, and low humidities were very favorable for harvest activities throughout the Midwest.  Soybean harvest was well ahead of the 5-average in most of the region, and corn harvest was at or ahead of the 5-year average except in Minnesota and Wisconsin, where heavy rain early in the month delayed drying of the corn and prevented equipment from getting into fields.  Initial reports indicated the in many areas crop yields were much better than expected.

-SDH-