Midwest Weekly Highlights - June 15-21, 2011

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A Wet Week

Most of the region was much wetter than normal during the third week of June. Rainfall totals exceeding 3" were widespread across southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin and also from southern Illinois, Indiana, into western Kentucky (Figure 1). The weekly totals exceeded 200% of normal over significant portions of seven states with parts of Kentucky and Indiana exceeding 400% of normal (Figure 2). Smaller areas along the northern and eastern edges of the region and also in southern Missouri received below normal precipitation. More than 300 daily precipitation records were set with 50+ records on five of the seven days in the week.
 

Near Normal Temperatures

Temperatures were near normal (within 2°F) for the vast majority of the Midwest (Figure 3). Departures ranged from 3°F above normal in southern Missouri to 4°F below normal near Lake Superior. Minimum temperatures (Figure 4) were above normal while maximum temperatures (Figure 5) were below normal for most of the region. Maximum temperatures were 8°F to 10°F below normal near Lake Superior. Just a few dozen daily temperature records were set with most being either record low maximums or record high minimums.
 

Missouri River Flooding Continues

Flooding along the Missouri River continued. There were numerous road closures, including Interstate 29, in western Iowa and northwest Missouri. The rising waters led to additional evacuations in Corning, Missouri (Holt County) and Watson, Missouri (Atchison County). Sandbagging and monitoring of levies continued as the elevated river levels are expected to persist for weeks.
 

Flash Flooding in Kentucky

Early morning on June 20th brought heavy downpours to south central and southeastern Kentucky. In Knox County, one man died in the flooding. Near Middlesboro, Kentucky (Bell County) flood waters washed into a mine trapping three miners as the mine shaft filled with water. All three miners were safely rescued after spending most of the day in a high spot within the mine.
 

Wisconsin Flash Flooding

Western Wisconsin was hit with flash flooding on June 18th and 19th. Late on the 18th, nearly 5" of rain fell in Eau Claire (Eau Claire County) pushing water into many building and homes. Roads were closed by high water and many cars were trapped. Outside of town, traffic on Interstate 94 was slowed overnight by a mudslide.

In the early morning hours of the 19th, heavy rains fell further south near Viroqua, Wisconsin (Vernon County). Cub Scouts camping in a local park were trapped when waters rose cutting off their exit from the park. The leaders took to boys to better shelter and called for emergency help. The authorities were able to walk the group out of the park in the morning but their vehicles remained in the park.
 

Flash Flooding in Illinois

Heavy down pours, with unofficial reports of up to 12", led to flooding in Jacksonville, Illinois (Morgan County) on the 18th and 19th. Interstate 72 had to be closed and residents of the town were evacuated as water levels quickly rose.
 

Severe Weather Widespread

Another week of widespread severe weather affected all nine Midwest states. Warnings during the week were concentrated in the southwest part of the region (Figure 6) but reports of severe weather were spread across all nine states (Figure 7). Tornadoes were reported in seven states on five different days. Hail and wind damage was even more widespread, occurring all days and affecting all states.
 

-MST-