Midwest Weekly Highlights - April 15-21, 2010

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April Warmth Eases as Temperatures Drift Closer to Normal

Temperatures remained above normal in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and upper Michigan where departures ranged from 2°F to 6°F above normal (Figure 1). The rest of the Midwest returned to near normal conditions with departures ranging from 1°F below normal in south central Kentucky to 2°F above normal in northwest Illinois and northeast Michigan. Daily temperature records were mostly record highs recorded early in the week.
 

Dry Conditions Across the Midwest

The third week of April saw little rainfall with totals ranging from nothing up to about an inch (Figure 2). Percent of normal precipitation was below normal across the region and below 25% for most of the region. Only northwest Missouri and a narrow swath from southwest Minnesota to the western tip of upper Michigan received between 50% and 100% of normal (Figure 3).

Severe weather was scarce with the only reports in eastern Ohio on the 16th (Figure 4). Thunderstorm winds took down trees in several Ohio counties. The relatively quiet spring, thus far, for severe weather extends across the country.
 

Drought Expands

The dry conditions in the Midwest led to an expansion of drought during the week (Figure 5). The persistent drought in northwest Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan worsened with the severe drought conditions expanding further east. Moderate drought also expanded slightly in Kentucky and considerably in northeast Minnesota.
 

Rivers Return to Normal

Flooding on Midwest rivers continued to ease during the week. The dry and warm conditions helped water levels to drop with only a few gauges still above flood stage (Figure 6).
 

-MST-