Midwest Weekly Highlights -December 18-24, 2011

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Heavy Precipitation in Missouri and Ohio

Heavy rains fell in Missouri and Ohio with totals exceeding two times normal in Ohio and from two to more than four times normal in Missouri (Figure 1). The northern half of the Midwest however was well below normal with less than 50% of normal. Daily precipitation records were limited to the southern half of the region. Snow fell in most of the northern Midwest (Figure 2) but the totals were less than normal for this time of year (Figure 3). As of Christmas Eve morning, only the northernmost Midwest had an inch or more of snow on the ground (Figure 4).
 

Warm Temperatures Again

Another week of temperatures well above normal led up to Christmas. Temperatures across the Midwest averaged from 5°F to 15°F above normal (Figure 5) for the week. The warmest temperatures extended from Minnesota to Ohio. Daily temperature records for the week were all record highs.
 

Lack of Midwest Snow Continues

Despite another big snow elsewhere (Figure 6), the Midwest had another week of below normal snowfall. All but the southern edge of the Midwest is well below normal for the season (Figure 7) with areas on the lee side of the Great Lakes in Michigan running as much as two feet below normal.
 

-MST-