Midwest Weekly Highlights - June 22-30, 2011

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Two Swaths of Precipitation

Precipitation totals for the last nine days of June were above normal for two swaths across the Midwest (Figure 1). There were above normal rains across the upper Midwest and also from the Iowa-Missouri border to western Kentucky. Totals for the nine-day period were in excess of 200% of normal for these two swaths while totals in between and in southwest Missouri were as low as 25% of normal. Rains for the period totaled more than 3" at many locations (Figure 2). Over 200 daily precipitation records were set. The rains in the upper Midwest were enough to improve the only area of drought in the Midwest back to Abnormally Dry (Figure 3).
 

Cool Temperatures

Temperatures were below normal for the last nine days of June across nearly all the Midwest. Southwest Missouri had temperatures up to 4°F above normal but the rest of the region was near normal to as much as 7°F below normal in western Iowa (Figure 4). Minimum temperatures were closer to normal across the region (Figure 5) but maximum temperatures were well below normal (Figure 6). In fact, nearly all the temperature records set were record low maximum temperatures. Despite the cooler than normal temperatures for the period, heat advisories were in place across most of the western Midwest on the 30th as heat advisories and warnings were issued as warm conditions moved into the Midwest for the holiday weekend (Figure 7).
 

Continued Flooding on the Missouri River

Continuing Missouri River flooding affected many aspects of society in western Iowa and Missouri (Figure 8). Transportation was hard hit with many bridges closed, Interstate highways closed, and both cargo and passenger train service disrupted. Many bridges were closed, including all river crossings for more than 100 miles from near Council Bluffs, Iowa south to St. Joseph, Missouri. The flooding not only roads crossing the river but also some along the river. Interstate 29 in western Iowa and northwest Missouri was for several stretches where flood waters topped the roadway. Freight train tracks have been closed both across and along the river. Amtrak service has also been disrupted, in part due to problems getting crew members to the trains near Omaha, Nebraska. Some farm fields have been left unplanted due to expected flooding while others were swamped after planting. The extended flooding will prevent replanting of these fields preventing any kind of crop this season. Levees continue to strain against the continued high water. Additional levee breaches have led to more evacuations from Mills County in southwest Iowa to as far south as Buchanan County in northwest Missouri.
 

Flash Flooding Closes Interstate Highways

Heavy rains over the southern Midwest fell over the weekend of the 25th and 26th. Flash flooding was a problem in many locations, even closing Interstate highways. Near St. Louis, Missouri, flash flooding briefly closed I-64 and I-55 and even buckled one lane of eastbound I-70, closing the road for a couple days. Flash flooding also closed numerous state and county highways, flooded basements, and swamped neighborhoods.
 

Widespread Severe Weather Again

Like each of the previous three weeks, severe weather hit all nine Midwest states during the last nine days of the month (Figure 9). The busiest days were the 22nd and the 26th. On the 22nd (Figure 10), severe weather was most common in eastern Michigan but there was also tornadic activity around Louisville, Kentucky (Jefferson County) as multiple tornadoes, up to EF2 in intensity, hit the area. Damage included six barns at the historic Churchill Downs race track but fortunately no people or horses were injured.

On the 26th (Figure 11), severe weather tracked across southern Iowa and northern Missouri into western Illinois. Dozens of reports of hail at least 1" in diameter were mixed among nearly 200 reports of wind damage as several bowing lines of thunderstorms moved across the affected area. Dozens of wind reports noted winds of 70 to 80 mph across the three states.
 

-MST-