Midwest Overview - January 2012

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Dry in West, Wet in East

The Midwest was largely split into a mostly wetter than normal eastern half and a drier than normal western half, though there were some wetter areas in the west (Figure 1). Totals ranged from less than 25% of normal along the western extent of Missouri to pockets with 150% of normal near Cincinnati and Cleveland in Ohio, and in Upper Michigan and north central Minnesota. Rains in the latter half of the month led to minor flooding in southern Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio (Figure 2). Drought expanded to include nearly all of Minnesota during January, but areas in Severe Drought remained unchanged (Figure 3). Snowfall was above average from the Iowa-Minnesota border to northeast Ohio as well as some areas further north (Figure 4). Further south, the totals were well short of normal for the month.
 

Warmth Across the Midwest

Temperatures in January were above normal across the region. Departures from normal ranged from about 5°F to 10°F (Figure 5). Warm conditions extended throughout most of the month and daily temperature records were strongly tilted to record highs. Only one station recorded a new record low during the month (two more tied record lows) while more than 1250 record highs were set or tied. Three days each recorded over 200 record highs with 295 on the 6th, 243 on the 11th, and 224 on the 31st (Figure 6). Fifteen of the record highs tied or set records for any date in January.
 

Severe Storms

Severe storms in the third week of January brought hail, wind damage, and tornadoes to the southern half of the Midwest (Figure 7). Storm reports were spread across four days from the 17th to the 23rd, with most of them on the 17th or 22nd. Hail reports of 1" to 1.75" hail came from Missouri to Illinois in the early morning hours on the 17th. Nine tornadoes were confirmed in Indiana and Kentucky on the 17th, ranging in strength from EF-0 to EF-2. Buildings and trees were significantly damaged by many of the twisters, some of which stayed on the ground for one to 9 miles. One person was injured in Jefferson County, Kentucky. Another EF-0 tornado touched down in Kentucky on the 22nd. Storms on the 22nd also pelted southeast Missouri, southern Illinois, and western Kentucky with hail ranging from 1" to 2" in diameter.
 

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