Midwest Weekly Highlights - June 8-14, 2010

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Southern Midwest Warm Again

The southern half of the Midwest was warm again while the northwest part of the region was cooler (Figure 1). Temperature departures ranged from more than 6°F above normal in the south to as much as 6°F below normal in northern Minnesota. The cooler than normal temperatures in Minnesota and Wisconsin were due do high temperatures running 10°F to 13°F below normal (Figure 2). In contrast, the warmth to the south could be attributed to the above normal minimum temperatures (Figure 3) more so than to warm high temperatures. Daily temperature records were mostly record high minimum temperatures.
 

Heavy Rain

Above normal rainfall amounts fell in most Midwest locations. Though a few areas were slightly below normal, most of the region received above normal amounts, many with one to as much as 5 inches above normal (Figure 4). The highest departures were in northern Missouri and southwest Iowa with swaths of one inch or more above normal extending though central Illinois and Indiana into Ohio and Kentucky and from southwest Minnesota to northern Wisconsin and Michigan. The rainfall in the upper Midwest fell on the drought area (Figure 5) which helped prevent a worsening of conditions. However, additional rains are still needed to overcome the long-term precipitation deficits in that area.  Hundreds of daily precipitation records were set for a second straight week. Viewed as percent of normal rainfall, the large swaths of more than 200% of normal dominate the map (Figure 6). Percentages reached 500% of normal in western Iowa.
 

Widespread Severe Weather Reports

Following a busy week of severe weather to kick off June, the second week was also busy though not as deadly. Scores of severe weather reports came in across the Midwest, particularly from Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio (Figure 7). The busiest days were the 12th and the 14th each with over 60 wind damage reports in the Midwest. The tornadoes reported in Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana were weaker storms that had more limited damage than the tornadoes of the previous week. Benton County, Indiana was pounded by hail on the 14th, damaging 5000 acres of crops with hail up to 4.25 inches in diameter.
 

Flash Flood Watches and Warnings Across Central Midwest

Saturated soils in the central Midwest led to flash flood watches and warnings as the rains couldn't be absorbed into the ground. Flash flooding affected areas across Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. High water closed roads in both rural and urban areas.
 

River Flooding

The heavy rains swelled rivers above flood stage in southern Iowa, northern Missouri, central Illinois, and central Indiana (Figure 8). Flood stages varied from minor to moderate flooding at most locations with just some brief instances of major flooding late in the week.
 

-MST-