Midwest Weekly Highlights - October 10-16, 2008

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Expanding Drought in Kentucky

The dominant weather feature of the second week of October was a slow-moving cold front associated with an upper level trough which brought rain parts of the Midwest on October 14 and 15 (Figure 1). Precipitation was heaviest across the western and central portions of the Midwest (Figure 2). Parts of Minnesota and Iowa saw as much as 500% of normal precipitation for the week, but precipitation totals across much of Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Illinois and Indiana were as much as 175% of normal. 

In contrast, areas across the southeast part of the Midwest were extremely dry, with central Kentucky seeing as little as 2% of normal rainfall.  Across far southeast Indiana and southern Ohio, precipitation was generally 10% of normal.  The dry conditions led to an expansion of drought across Kentucky, as the October 14 U.S. Drought Monitor showed nearly all of the state of Kentucky experiencing drought conditions (Figure 3). Extreme (D3) drought entered parts of southeastern Kentucky, surrounded by Severe (D2) and Moderate (D1) drought across the majority of the state. Across northern parts of the region, Severe (D2) drought continued across central Wisconsin and expanded in to southern Minnesota this week.    

Above Average Warmth

Temperatures were well above normal over much of the Midwest this week (Figure 4). Areas of Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio were as much as 9°F degrees warmer than average.  Only small areas of western Iowa and Minnesota were 1°F to 2°F degrees below normal. 

Some Severe Weather

Severe weather was limited across the Midwest this week, but some severe weather was reported on October 15 in Indiana. Trees were uprooted and landed on houses in Monterey (Pulaski County) and trees were blown down on to vehicles near North Manchester (Wabash County).  No other severe weather was reported in the Midwest this week. 

AB