Midwest Weekly Highlights - June 10-16, 2012

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Dry in the East

There was more dry weather in the second week of June for the eastern half of the Midwest (Figure 1). There were some scattered locations in Ohio and eastern Kentucky that received over 0.50" but from both shores of Lake Michigan south to southern Indiana most locations were dry for the week. Heavier rains fell in the west with most locations topping 0.50" and some areas with 3.00" or more extending from western Iowa to southeast Minnesota. Goodhue County in southeast Minnesota had several stations topping 6.00" and a couple that topped 8.00" on June 14th (Figure 2). Dozens of daily precipitation records were set from Missouri to west central Wisconsin.
 

Near Normal Temperatures

A dip in temperatures mid-week brought the average temperature very close to normal for most of the Midwest. Along the shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior temperatures were 3°F to 5°F above normal with the rest of the Midwest within a degree or two of normal (Figure 3). Daily temperature records were mostly record highs early in the week, record lows in the middle of the week, and a mix of highs and lows for the last couple days of the week.
 

Scattered Severe Weather

Severe weather reports, mostly hail and wind damage, were scattered around the Midwest in the second week of June (Figure 4). All nine states had severe weather reports with reports on each day except the 12th and 13th. The Midwest's lone tornado touched down outside of Belle Plaine (Scott County), Minnesota on the 10th. Damage included farm sheds, a grain bin, and numerous trees toppled.
 

Drought Expansion

Drought conditions continued to expand across the Midwest in the second week of June. The June 12th issue of the US Drought Monitor showed expansion of drought areas, especially in the southern two-thirds of the region (Figure 5). Areas designated Abnormally Dry expanded to cover over 60% of the Midwest. Stream flows in the region were well below normal for all but a few isolated pockets (Figure 6).
 

-MST-
The Minnesota State Climatology Office also contributed to this report.