Midwest Weekly Highlights - November 1-7, 2009

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Precipitation

Following the record precipitation in October, the dry first week of November was a welcome change. The southwestern half of the Midwest received less than a tenth of an inch of precipitation while the north and east parts received between a tenth and three-quarters of an inch (Figure 1). The northern states got a mix of snow and rain but the snow accumulation was minimal (Figure 2) and all had melted by the end of the week.
 

Temperature

The temperature pattern for the week was opposite that from the previous week. Temperatures were cool in the east, 4°F to 5°F below normal in Ohio and eastern Kentucky, and warm in the west, more than 5°F above normal in the western extremes of Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri (Figure 3). Daily temperature ranges ran 7-10°F more than normal for this time of year. A few daily temperature records were set late in the week.
 

October Rains Continue to Impact Midwest

The October rains led to improved drought conditions in the northern Midwest as depicted in the November 3rd Drought Monitor (Figure 4). Further south in Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri the October rains led to flooding that lasted throughout the week. Moderate to major flooding was reported along the Mississippi and Illinois rivers as well as on their smaller tributaries early in the week (Figure 5, Figure 6, and Figure 7) and still later in the week (Figure 8). Flooding in Phelps County, Missouri closed over 100 roads this week. Many of those roads were damaged by the flood waters. Flooding also briefly closed a riverboat casino in the St. Louis area.

Farmers welcomed the drier conditions which helped dry both fields and crops. Farmers across the Midwest logged long hours in their fields. The late harvest made some progress especially later in the week, but crowded elevators which needed to check for mold and dry huge amounts of high moisture grain, tempered the harvest pace.
 

-MST-