Midwest Overview - December 2008

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A Cold, Snowy December

December was a very active month, with above average precipitation and below average temperatures.  Precipitation was above average across nearly all of the Midwest (Figure 1). The southwest portion of the region only received about 75% of normal precipitation, while a large portion of northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin saw over 200% of normal precipitation.  Much of this precipitation came as snowfall, with most of Minnesota and Wisconsin receiving 30 inches of snowfall (Figure 2). Heavier totals due to lake effect snow were found in Michigan where over 60 inches of snow fell.  Despite frequent snowfall across much of the region in December, snowpack was generally confined to Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan at the end of the month (Figure 3).

Temperatures were well below normal across most of the Midwest (Figure 4). Average temperatures ranged from 1°F below normal over parts of Ohio and Kentucky to as much as 9°F below normal across Minnesota.

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