Midwest Weekly Highlights - January 11-17, 2012

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Precipitation

Precipitation totals ranged from less than 50% of normal, in the western third of the Midwest, to more than twice normal, mostly in the eastern half of the region (Figure 1). For the first time this season snow was widespread across the region, though amounts were less than an inch in southern and western areas (Figure 2). The largest snow totals were near the Great Lakes and along the Illinois-Wisconsin border and into east-central Iowa. The drought status in the Midwest was unchanged (Figure 3). Some daily snowfall and precipitation records were set.
 

Temperatures Remain Above Normal

Midwest temperatures moderated slightly in the second week of January, but remained above normal (Figure 4). Departures ranged from just a few degrees to more than 6°F in Wisconsin. A single record low temperature was tied on the 14th, the first record low for the Midwest since early December. Record highs were much more common with nearly 400 set or tied during the week.
 

First Widespread Snow of Season

After several more localized storms earlier in fall or winter, the first widespread snow event affected the Midwest the first few days of the week. As a cold front pushed to the southeast, winter weather advisories were put in place for most of the region (Figure 5). Totals were lowest in the west and south with only an inch or two. The highest snowfall totals around the Great Lakes were four to 12 inches with some totals exceeding a foot in Upper Michigan. The snow, along with windy conditions across the region, affected both automobile travel (fatal accidents in Missouri and Iowa) and air travel (hundreds of flight cancellations at Chicago's airports).
 

Second Storm Packs Severe Weather

Temperatures warmed mid-week ahead of another storm system that affected the region. Winter weather returned to the upper Midwest while severe storms broke out in the southern Midwest (Figure 6). Nine tornadoes were confirmed by the NWS in Kentucky and southern Indiana (Figure 7). Straight line winds were responsible for additional damage to buildings and trees from southwest Illinois to Kentucky and large hail was reported in Missouri and southern Illinois.
 

-MST-