Midwest Weekly Highlights - July 1-10, 2010

---

Drier Weather for Most of the Midwest

Rainfall totals varied considerably during the first ten days of July. The eastern half of the region was well below normal and the western half experienced both above and below normal amounts (Figure 1). A swath running from southwest to northeast across Minnesota and another swath from Missouri to Upper Michigan received 50% to more than 100% above normal while other locations got below normal totals. Daily precipitation records were set with most occurring later in the period.
 

Warm in Upper Midwest

Warmer than normal conditions were recorded across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan with near normal temperatures in the rest of the region (Figure 2). Departures reached as much as 6 degrees above normal . Daily temperature records included several record high minimum temperatures .
 

Drought Returns to Missouri

While the drier conditions were welcomed in many Midwest locations, the continued dryness in southeast Missouri led to a introduction of moderate drought to southeast Missouri (Figure 3). Moderate and sever drought conditions continued in the Upper Midwest.
 

River Flooding Eases for Most of Iowa

Flooding continued across Iowa, northern Missouri, and western Illinois (Figure 4), but for the most part conditions improved slightly from the end of June. Parts of southeast Iowa saw worsening conditions due to heavy rains on top of the high water working its way down river to the Mississippi River. Flooding in Ottumwa, Iowa (Wapello County) caused the evacuation of a mobile home park.
 

Where It Rained, It Poured

Rains that fell during the first ten days of July were often heavy downpours. Flash flooding occurred on the 1st in International Falls, Minnesota (Koochiching County) when 3.04 inches fell setting a new record. International Falls and other Minnesota stations, Cook (St. Louis County), Park Rapids (Hubbard County), Walker (Cass County), and Forest Lake (Wright County) have already received more than their normal precipitation for the entire month of July.

Later in the week, flash flooding also affected Waterloo, Iowa (Black Hawk County), Green Bay, Wisconsin (Brown County), Freeburg, Illinois (St. Clair County), and Evansville, Indiana (Vanderburgh County).
 

Sparse Severe Weather

Following a very busy June for severe weather, the first ten days of July were much quieter. There were just a handful of reports in the first nine days of the month followed by some severe weather in Minnesota and Wisconsin on the 10th. A weak tornado hit Cambria, Wisconsin (Columbia County) on the 7th. Two more twisters touched down on the 10th in Hoffman, Minnesota (Grant County) and Gilchrist, Minnesota (Pope County). Large hail also fell with 3 inch hail reported in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
 

-MST-