Midwest Weekly Highlights - August 22-31, 2011

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More Dry Weather

The last 10 days of August were drier than normal for most of the Midwest (Figure 1). Some areas from Iowa to Ohio picked up more than normal but areas to the north and south received less than 25% of normal. The area near the confluence of the Ohio and Wabash Rivers, parts of Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky, were dry for the 10-day period (Figure 2). The US Drought Monitor as of August 30th puts areas of all nine states in Abnormally Dry, with seven states in Moderate Drought, and five in Severe Drought (Figure 3). Despite the generally dry conditions, more than 100 daily precipitation records were set. On the 22nd, over five and a half inches of rain fell in Burlington Junction, MO (Nodaway County) and on the 25th, more than four inches fell in Logan, OH (Hocking County).
 

Near Normal Temperatures

Temperatures averaged near normal (Figure 4), plus or minus 2°F, across all but the far northwest and southwest corners of the region. The two extreme western corners of the region averaged 2°F to 4°F above normal. Daily temperature records were set on each day including some 100°F plus temperatures in Iowa and Missouri.
 

Severe Weather Fatality

Severe weather was more limited but there was still a weather related death. Severe storms on the 22nd (Figure 5) were mostly located in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota. The following day's storms (Figure 6) were mostly in Wisconsin and included multiple tornadoes and a storm related death after medical equipment failed due to power outages in Clark County. Storms on the 24th (Figure 7) were spread from southern Michigan to the northern halves of Indiana and Ohio. One of the storms in northeast Ohio (Geauga County) was later determined to be just the ninth tornado in the history of that county. Wind damage in far western Iowa on the 28th (Figure 8) followed several quiet days. The 31st (Figure 9) saw winds in excess of 100 mph in extreme northwestern Minnesota as storms in the northern plains clipped the state. Grain elevators were torn from their foundations and blown across fields while several others were severely damaged by the strong winds.
 

Missouri River Flooding

Flood waters from the Missouri continue to plague parts of Iowa and Missouri. Despite decreased dam releases in the Dakotas and dropping water levels, many roads are still under water, including several miles of I-29 north and south of Council Bluffs, IA. Dropping water levels in Iowa and Missouri continued to reveal damaged roadways from months of inundation. The battle to keep levees intact continues with acres and acres of farm fields along with towns in the balance. Flash flooding in western Iowa on the 22nd and 23rd from heavy rains caused building collapses, evacuations, and water rescues. The combination of extended river flooding and heavy rains led to a 30 foot breach of a levee in Mills County, IA.
 

-MST-