New Year Brings Cool Down

Happy New Year from the Midwestern Regional Climate Center! After one of the warmest Decembers on record, the New Year has brought a significantly cooler weather pattern across the Midwest. Average temperatures for the region ranged from 1-13°F below normal, with isolated locations in Minnesota in excess of 15°F below normal (Figure 1). Cass County, Minnesota reported an average temperature of -14.7°F, which was 21.5°F below normal. To find any average temperatures above normal, you would have to look to eastern Kentucky and eastern Ohio, where temperatures were as much as 7.9°F above normal. Trumbull County, Ohio checked in with an average temperature of 34.9°F, which was 7.9°F above normal. The most significant temperature departures occurred in minimum temperatures (Figure 2). In central Minnesota, minimum temperatures ranged from 16-25°F below normal. To the south, minimum temperatures in Iowa northern Missouri and western Illinois were nearly 10-15°F below normal. There were 21 low minimum and 47 low maximum daily temperature records broken or tied this week (Figure 3). Normal minimum temperatures to nearly 5°F above normal were observed in southern Indiana, eastern Ohio and eastern Kentucky. Maximum temperatures followed suit with the coldest high temperatures occurring in Minnesota (10-20°F below normal) (Figure 4). Eastern Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio observed near normal to 8-9°F above normal maximum temperatures. There were 27 high maximum daily temperature records broken or tied and 31 high minimum daily temperature records broken or tied this week (Figure 5). High minimum temperature records were concentrated in the eastern Midwest, which occurred on New Year's Day before the cooldown started for much of the Midwest. Maximum temperature change from January 1-2 ranged from 5 to nearly 40°F as a cold front swept across the region.

Southern Ohio River Valley Receives Above Normal Precipitation with Flooding

The southern Ohio River Valley received above normal precipitation this week with precipitation ranging from 1” to nearly 5” above normal (Figure 6). Widespread 3-5" of precipitation fell across most of Kentucky, with isolated heavier amounts, contributing to widespread flooding across the state on New Year’s Day (Figure 7). Greenup County, Kentucky reported 6.29” of precipitation, which was 5.63” above normal. One storm chaser on Twitter shared video of the ongoing flooding in Liberty, Kentucky. According to an NPR article, the Kentucky Governor’s Office declared a state of emergency and reported several roads closed due to flooding. Water rescues as a result of flooding conditions ensued. Outside of the southern Ohio River Valley, precipitation was near normal except for isolated locations in northern Missouri into southern Iowa, northern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and along Lake Michigan where precipitation was less than 1” above normal. There were 67 daily precipitation records broken or tied this week (Figure 8).

New Year’s Day Storm Reports (Figure 9)

In addition to the previously mentioned flooding, there were 10 tornado storm reports. The National Weather Service confirmed 8 total tornadoes occurred in Kentucky (3 EF-0 and 5 EF-1). A summary of the Kentucky storms can be found here. The largest tornado, which occurred north of Campbellsville, was 350 yards wide with a path length of 6.5 miles. Fortunately, no tornado-related deaths or injuries were reported. Additionally, there were 23 wind-related storm reports. Straight line wind damage was reported along a 0.1 mile by 75-yard stretch in Thurlow. Winds were estimated at 70 mph with damage to two homes, barns, and trees.

Most of Midwest Sees Snow, Some more than Others...

Across the region, the most snow was recorded in Kentucky, northern Wisconsin, and Michigan (Figure 10). The southern portion of the Ohio River Valley saw their first snow of the season, where totals ranged from 0.01 to nearly 10”. Most of Kentucky received 175 to greater than 750 percent of normal snowfall for the week (Figure 11). Fayette County, Kentucky received 9.9”, which was 9.1” above normal for the week. Much of Missouri, Indiana, and Ohio missed out on the heavier snowfall totals with weekly snow totals ranging from 0.01-0.5”. Northern Missouri through Michigan received 2-7.5” of snow, with higher lake effect amounts exceeding 20” in western Michigan. This region received 175-500 percent of normal snowfall. To the north, widespread snow in excess of 2” fell across Minnesota and Wisconsin. Higher amounts (15-28.5") fell in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Marquette County, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, received 28.5” of snow (18” above normal for the week). Seventy-four daily snowfall records were broken or tied in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, and Ohio (Figure 12).

Drought Monitor Improvements in Missouri, Eastern Iowa, and Northern Illinois The January 4th U.S. Drought Monitor saw slight improvement in Missouri, eastern Iowa, and northern Illinois. In Missouri, D2 (Severe Drought) was downgraded to D1 (moderate drought) and D1 (moderate drought) was downgraded to D0 (abnormally dry) (Figure 13). Parts of the Missouri D0 (abnormally dry) category were removed. In eastern Iowa, part of the D0 (abnormally dry) category was removed. In northern Illinois, The D1 (moderate drought) category shrunk and parts were improved to D0 (abnormally dry).