Temperature

The average temperature for the Midwest in 2025 was 49.9°F, which was 0.9°F above the 1991-2020 normal. Final rankings indicate 2025 was tied for the 15th warmest year on record (dating back to 1895) for the Midwest (Figure 1). Across the region, annual temperatures were near normal for most locations in the east and near to slightly above normal in the west (Figure 2). Statewide annual average temperatures ranged from 1.4°F above normal in Iowa to 0.2°F above normal in Ohio. There were no notable statewide annual temperature records.

Selected Station-Level Records:

• Indianapolis, IN – Greatest number of consecutive days at or above 70°F with 133 days (154 years of data)
• Springfield, IL – 2nd greatest number of consecutive days at or above 70°F with 142 days (145 years of data)
• Dayton, OH – Tied for the 2nd greatest number of consecutive days at or above 70°F with 129 days (130 years of data)
• Sibley, IA – Longest frost-free season on record at 185 consecutive days above freezing
• Pine River, MN – Longest frost-free season on record at 187 consecutive days above freezing
• Waterloo, IA – Longest frost-free season on record at 191 consecutive days above freezing
• Rochester, MN – Longest frost-free season on record at 191 consecutive days above freezing
• Sac City, IA – Tied for the longest frost-free season on record at 198 consecutive days above freezing
• Okland, IA – Longest frost-free season on record at 205 consecutive days above freezing
• Bowling Green, KY – Longest frost-free season on record at 235 consecutive days above freezing

Precipitation

The annual precipitation for the Midwest was 35.27 inches, which was 2.69 inches below the 1991-2020 normal, or 93 percent of normal (Figure 1). Precipitation for most of the region was 75-125 percent of normal for the year (Figure 3). Notable exceptions include central Kentucky and west-central Minnesota, where annual precipitation was 125-150 percent of normal, and central Illinois and northern Indiana, which had annual precipitation 50-75 percent of normal. Statewide precipitation totals ranged from 7.10 inches above normal in Kentucky to 7.82 inches below normal in Illinois. Final rankings indicate Kentucky had its 10th wettest year on record.

Selected Station-Level DRY Precipitation Records:

• Fort Wayne, IN – Driest year on record (118 years of data)
• Champaign, IL – 2nd driest year on record (134 years of data)
• Logansport, IN – 3rd driest year on record (112 years of data)
• Sidell, IL – 3rd driest year on record (75 years of data)
• Duluth, MN – 5th driest year on record (151 years of data)
• Park Rapids, MN – 6th driest year on record (113 years of data)
• Winamac, IN – 6th driest year on record (88 years of data)

Selected Station-Level WET Precipitation Records:

• Morris, MN – Wettest year on record (133 years of data)
• Danville, KY – Wettest year on record (82 years of data)
• Petoskey, MI – 2nd wettest year on record (70 years of data)
• Artichoke Lake, MN – 2nd wettest year on record (103 years of data)
• Canby, MN – 3rd wettest on record (82 years of data)
• Bowling Green, KY – 5th wettest on record (83 years of data)
• Tell City, IN – 6th wettest on record (77 years of data)

Snowfall for the 2025 calendar year was above normal in the southern half of the region and a mix of above and below normal in the northern half. Lake-affected regions received 100 to 200 inches (Figure 4), which was near to slightly above normal (Figure 5). Notable deficits occurred across far northern Minnesota, southern Minnesota, and southern Wisconsin, where annual snowfall was 25-75 percent of normal. Throughout the lower Midwest, annual snowfall totals ranged from 10 to 40 inches, which was 100-300 percent of normal, with localized areas in Kentucky 500-1000 percent of normal.

Selected Station-Level SNOW Records:

• Louisville, KY – 7th snowiest calendar year on record (140 years of data)
• Cincinnati, OH – 7th snowiest calendar year on record (107 years of data)
• Marshall, MN – 6th least snowy calendar year on record (69 years of data)

Drought

The year started with drought and abnormal dryness widespread across the upper Midwest, with isolated areas of drought and abnormal dryness across the lower Midwest (Figure 6). Spring wetness provided some relief, and by late April 2025, 70 percent of the Midwest was free of drought or dryness (Figure 7). Drought and dryness remained steady through spring and early summer, then conditions further improved into mid-summer. By late July, 91 percent of the region was free of drought and dryness (Figure 8). Conditions rapidly declined from south to north in August (Figure 9) and September (Figure 10). By late September, drought was widespread across the lower Midwest and Michigan. Drought intensified along an axis from southwest Missouri to northwest Ohio during the fall, while conditions improved in Kentucky, which was free of drought or dryness by early November (Figure 11). Drought and dryness expanded in coverage across the upper Midwest during the fall as well. By year’s end, drought and dryness persisted throughout the Mississippi River Basin and Great Lakes, while most of the Ohio River Basin maintained ample wetness. Overall, 68 percent of the Midwest was in drought or experiencing abnormal dryness (Figure 12). Extreme (D3) drought, which took hold in October, lingered in portions of east-central Illinois, northern Indiana, and northwest Ohio.

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Temperature

The average temperature for the Midwest in 2024 was 52.3°F, which was 3.3°F above the 1991-2020 normal (Figure 1). Final rankings indicate 2024 was the warmest year on record (dating back to 1895) for the Midwest, beating 2012 by 0.1°F. The entire region experienced warm conditions with temperatures ranging from 2-4°F above normal (Figure 2). Statewide annual average temperatures ranged from 2.5°F above normal in Kentucky to 3.9°F above normal in Minnesota. Final rankings indicate the following six states had their warmest year on record: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Illinois and Missouri had their 2nd warmest year, and Iowa had its 3rd warmest (Figure 3).

Selected Station-Level Temperature Records:

Average Temperature

• Decorah, IA – Warmest annual average temperature on record (119 years of data)
• Peoria, IL – Warmest annual average temperature on record (123 years of data)
• South Bend, IN – Warmest annual average temperature on record (124 years of data)
• Cave Run Lake, KY – Warmest annual average temperature on record (103 years of data)
• Muskegon, MI – Warmest annual average temperature on record (127 years of data)
• Crookston, MN – Warmest annual average temperature on record (124 years of data)
• Bucyrus, OH – Warmest annual average temperature on record (121 years of data)
• Oshkosh, WI – Warmest annual average temperature on record (118 years of data)

Minimum Temperature

• Clinton, IA – Warmest annual minimum temperature on record (128 years of data)
• Du Quoin, IL – Warmest annual minimum temperature on record (119 years of data)
• Mount Vernon, IN – Warmest annual minimum temperature on record (115 years of data)
• Bowling Green, KY – Warmest annual minimum temperature on record (129 years of data)
• Sault Ste. Marie, MI – Warmest annual minimum temperature on record (130 years of data)
• St. Cloud, MN – Warmest annual minimum temperature on record (123 years of data)
• Neosho, MO – Warmest annual minimum temperature on record (127 years of data)
• Sandusky, OH – Warmest annual minimum temperature on record (119 years of data)
• Manitowoc, WI – Warmest annual minimum temperature on record (123 years of data)

Maximum Temperature

• Decorah, IA – Warmest annual maximum temperature on record (119 years of data)
• Morrison, IL – Warmest annual maximum temperature on record (126 years of data)
• South Bend, IN – Warmest annual maximum temperature on record (127 years of data)
• Lexington, KY – Warmest annual maximum temperature on record (130 years of data)
• Houghton, MI – Warmest annual maximum temperature on record (130 years of data)
• Duluth, MN – Warmest annual maximum temperature on record (97 years of data)
• Hiram, OH – Warmest annual maximum temperature on record (123 years of data)
• Green Bay, WI – Warmest annual maximum temperature on record (130 years of data)

Precipitation

The annual precipitation for the Midwest was 38.50 inches, which was 0.54 inches above the 1991-2020 normal, or 101 percent of normal. Most areas had near-normal precipitation, with isolated pockets of slightly above-normal precipitation in southern Missouri, central Wisconsin, and along the Minnesota-Iowa border (Figure 4). Statewide precipitation totals ranged from 3.35 inches below normal in Ohio to 2.95 inches above normal in Wisconsin (Figure 1).

Snowfall for the 2024 calendar year was below normal for nearly the entire Midwest (Figure 5). Only a small portion of southeast Iowa and the extreme eastern edge of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula had slightly above-normal snowfall totals. The lake-effected regions of the Midwest had the largest deficits, with a wide stretch of Lake Superior’s south shore totaling 40-70 inches below normal in 2024. Snowfall in Western Michigan and northern Ohio was 20-40 inches below normal.

Selected Station-Level Precipitation Records:

• Waupaca, WI – Wettest year on record (116 years of data)
• New London, WI – Wettest year on record (113 years of data)
• Algona, IA – 2nd wettest year on record (124 years of data)
• Coldwater, MI – 2nd wettest year on record (124 years of data)
• Mountain Grove, MO – 2nd wettest year on record (119 years of data)
• Faribault, MN – 3rd wettest year on record (107 years of data)
• Salem, IL – 4th wettest year on record (104 years of data)
• Traverse City, MI – 6th driest year on record (123 years of data)
• Marquette, MI – least calendar-year snowfall on record (124 years of data)
• Winnebago, MN – least calendar-year snowfall on record (88 years of data)

Drought

The year started with just over three-quarters of the region abnormally dry or in drought, according to the US Drought Monitor, with the most significant drought in Iowa and across the lower Midwest (Figure 6). Ample spring precipitation brought widespread relief, and drought was eliminated from the region by early June, with just a few patchy areas of lingering dryness in the western half of the Midwest (Figure 7). Dry summer weather in the eastern portion of the region ushered in a new wave of drought that took hold over southeast Ohio. Conditions in Ohio deteriorated rapidly, and by late August, the state had its first D4 (exceptional drought) since the inception of the US Drought Monitor Map (which started in 2000) (Figure 8). Dryness was widespread across the central and lower Midwest in the final weeks of summer, enabling a westward expansion of drought. Nearly 80 percent of the region was abnormally dry or in drought by late September compared to just 20 percent of the region that was affected in mid-August (Figure 9). The remnants of Hurricane Helene moved through in late September and brought drought relief to Kentucky, southern Ohio, southern Illinois, southern Indiana, and southeast Missouri (Figure 10). Drought intensified throughout the rest of the Midwest in October, with dryness resettling in Helene-affected areas before a large-scale weather pattern shift in early November (Figure 11). Wet conditions throughout November and December notably improved the Midwest drought picture. The year closed with 59 percent of the region abnormally dry or in drought, mainly affecting the northern half of the Midwest (Figure 12).

Summary of Significant Events

Dreary January: It was a gloomy start to the year with persistent cloud cover for most of the Midwest. St. Paul, Minnesota, had record-low sunshine, and Detroit, Michigan, had overcast skies on 87% of January days. It wasn’t just cloudy skies, though — dense fog blanketed much of the region January 23-25. On the 24th, dense fog advisories extended from Kansas City to Toledo, including all of Missouri and Illinois (Figure 13, Satellite Liaison Blog – Bill Line). Visibility was as low as 300 feet, delaying schools and disrupting flights.

February Tornadoes: Severe weather got a head start. Wisconsin had its first-ever February tornadoes when two touched down on the 8th. An outbreak on the 27th (Figure 14) and 28th (Figure 15) brought 22 confirmed tornadoes across the lower Midwest, including an EF-2 with winds of 130 mph that injured three near Springfield, Ohio.

The Winter That Wasn’t: Persistent warmth was a mainstay across the Midwest, resulting in the 2023-24 winter season becoming the warmest on record. Mild temperatures favored rainfall over snowfall; lake-affected areas saw 40-80 fewer inches of winter snow than usual (Figure 5). Average Great Lakes ice cover was just 4.3%, the lowest ever measured. The missing winter devastated the tourism and recreation economy across the Upper Midwest.

Midwest’s Tornadic May: The Midwest had its 2nd-highest May tornado count since 2004. There were 237 preliminary tornado reports, nearly three times the monthly average (Figure 16). Tornadoes occurred on 19 days. Three significant outbreak days each had 20-50 confirmed touchdowns. On May 21, an EF-4 carved a 44-mile path through southeastern Iowa, causing extensive damage, injuring 35 people, and tragically claiming five lives.

*Based on preliminary data

Record Rainfall June 16-23: Multiple rounds of heavy rain fell across northern Iowa, southern Minnesota and Wisconsin, dropping 2-3 months’ worth of rain in a single week. About 6-12 inches of rain fell from June 16-23, causing record and near-record river flows that collapsed railroad bridges and dams, inundated roadways, and flooded homes and businesses (Figure 17).

Damaging Derecho: On July 15-16, a widespread, long-lived cluster of thunderstorms (called a derecho) laid down a path of destruction, with 60-100 mph winds stretching from Iowa to Indiana (Figure 18). The storm system was accompanied by 56 confirmed tornadoes across Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana. Illinois took the brunt of the outbreak with 48 tornadoes — the most on record from a single weather event in the state. Storm damages are estimated at more than $1 billion across the region.

Hurricane Helene Remnants Impact Midwest: Hurricane Helene brought catastrophic impacts to the southeastern U.S., dropping 4-7 inches of flooding rain across Kentucky and 50-70 mph damaging winds across the Ohio River Valley from September 27-29 (Figure 19). Despite a dry start to the month, Kentucky penned the 5th-wettest September on record. Helene brought much-needed rain and short-term relief to drought-stricken areas in southern Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.

Drought Explodes in Last Half of Year: Drought gripped southeast Ohio by late summer, with the state’s first-ever exceptional drought (D4) since the inception of the U.S. Drought Monitor in 2000. Dryness rapidly expanded westward across the Midwest during the fall season. By late October, 75% of the region was in drought, and the rest experienced abnormal dryness (Figure 11). Impacts were widespread: depleted soil moisture, dormant vegetation, heightened fire risk, early fall colors, low water levels and reduced crop yields in some areas.

Lake-Effect Snow Kicks Off Winter: Record warm Great Lakes water temperatures fueled a massive lake-effect snow event from Nov. 28 through the first week of December. Heavy snow shut down major highways. Storm-event snowfall totals topped out at 20-50 inches in northern Michigan (Figure 20) and northeast Ohio (Figure 21).

2024 – The Hottest Year on Record: 2024 goes down as the hottest year on record for the Midwest. Record warmth in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin, too (Figure 3). Remarkably, this occurred despite near-average temperatures during the summer months. Persistent warmth during winter, spring and autumn were the drivers behind this record warm year.

*Records date back to 1895

2023 Top Midwestern Weather Events (Spanish)

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The preliminary average temperature for the Midwest in 2023 was 51.2°F, which was 2.2°F above the 1991-2020 normal. Final rankings indicate 2023 tied the 4th warmest year since 1895 for the Midwest. The entire region experienced warm conditions with temperatures ranging from 1-3°F above normal (Figure 1). Statewide annual average temperatures ranged from 1.7°F above normal in Kentucky to 2.5°F above normal in Wisconsin. The following seven states had a top five warmest year on record: Illinois (5th), Indiana (4th), Kentucky (4th), Michigan (Tied-3rd), Missouri (Tied-5th), Ohio (Tied-4th), Wisconsin (Tied-4th). Annual minimum (Figure 2) and annual maximum (Figure 3) temperatures followed a similar pattern, with all parts of the region above normal by about 1-4°F.

Notable Temperature-Related Station Records:

• Milwaukee, WI – Warmest average annual temperature on record (151 years)
• Louisville, KY – Warmest average annual temperature on record (151 years)
• St. Louis, MO – 2nd warmest average annual temperature on record (148 years)
• Lansing, MI – 2nd warmest average annual temperature on record (157 years)
• Peoria, IL – Tied for warmest average annual temperature on record (138 years)
• Waterloo, IA – Tied for 2nd warmest average annual temperature on record (129 years)
• Minneapolis, MN – Greatest number of days at or above 80°F (151 years)

Precipitation

Annual precipitation for the Midwest was 32.64 inches, which was 5.32 inches below the 1991-2020 normal, or 86 percent of normal. Most areas had below-normal precipitation with the exception of southern Michigan and a few isolate pockets across the region (Figure 4). A large swath of the western and southern Midwest had annual precipitation deficits of 6-15 inches for the year, with the greatest deficits in Iowa and Missouri. Statewide precipitation totals ranged from 0.58 inches below normal in Michigan to 8.75 inches below normal in Iowa.

Snowfall for the 2023 calendar year varied from 100-150 percent of normal in the northwestern Midwest to less than 25 percent of normal in the southeast (Figure 5). Snowfall deficits in lake-effected areas downwind from Lakes Superior, Michigan, and Erie ranged from 20-50 inches (Figure 6). Most of Kentucky had less than an inch of snowfall during the entire 2023 calendar year (Figure 7).

Notable Precipitation-Related Station Records:

• Cedar Rapids, IA – 3rd driest year on record (127 years)
• Indianapolis, IN – 2nd latest first measurable snowfall on record (since 1884)

Drought

The year was defined by large hydrologic swings throughout the Midwest starting with very wet conditions before drought rapidly onset mid-year and then ebbed and flowed to close the year. Abnormal dryness and drought covered 57 percent of the region in early January, affecting all nine states but with the most severe conditions in western Iowa (Figure 8). Widespread above-normal precipitation from January to early April reduced dryness and drought coverage to just 18 percent by late April, with dryness confined to west of the Mississippi River (Figure 9). Conditions started to rapidly decline across the region as the growing season ramped up. By late June, drought and dryness were widespread, covering 93 percent of the region and impacting all nine states (Figure 10). By July, exceptional (D4) drought spread across a multi-county stretch of central Missouri and extreme (D3) drought was present in Missouri, Iowa, and Wisconsin according to the U.S Drought Monitor map (Figure 11). Conditions started to improve in the southeastern Midwest and into the central Midwest throughout July (Figure 12) and August while lingering elsewhere (Figure 13). Drought severity peaked in the northwest in mid-September (Figure 14), with D4 drought affecting portions of Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin before conditions started to gradually improve during the fall. Regional improvements stalled in the northwest and began to wane across the lower Midwest in November (Figure 15) and December (Figure 16). The year ended with dryness and drought affecting 77 percent of the region, including all nine states, with the most intense drought in Iowa and across the lower Midwest from central Missouri eastward through Kentucky.

2022 Top Midwestern Weather Events (Spanish)

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Notable Temperature-Related Station Records:

• Toledo, OH – 5th warmest maximum temperature, POR 1875-2022*
• Red Lake Falls, MN – 5th coldest maximum temperature, POR 1913-2022
• St. Joseph, MO – Coldest minimum temperature, POR 1914-2022
• Detroit, MI – Greatest number of days at or above 85°F (64 days), POR 1934-2022
• Toledo, OH – tied for 2nd greatest number of days at or above 85°F (75 days), POR 1875-2022
• St. Louis, MO – Tied for 2nd longest consecutive stretch of high temperatures at or above 80°F (88 days), POR 1874-2022
• Minneapolis, MN – Longest consecutive stretch of daily high temperatures at or above 70°F (118 days), POR 1873-2022
• Akron, OH – Tied for the longest consecutive stretch of daily high temperatures at or above 70°F (112 days), POR 1888-2022

Precipitation Annual precipitation for the Midwest was 34.91 inches, which was 3.05 inches below the 1991-2020 normal, or 92 percent of normal (Figure 1). All nine states had below-normal annual precipitation, with statewide totals that ranged from 0.98 inches below normal in Ohio to 8.30 inches below normal in Iowa. Iowa had the 20th driest year on record (dating back to 1895). While conditions overall were dryer than usual, precipitation was 4-12 inches above normal across far northern Minnesota, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, central Ohio, and in isolated pockets across the lower Midwest (Figure 5).

Snowfall was highly variable across the region during the 2022 calendar year. Snowfall was 100-300 percent of normal across much of Missouri and Kentucky, and up to 200 percent of normal across northern Minnesota (Figure 6). Snowfall was 25-75 percent of normal for much of Indiana, Ohio, and western Iowa. Snowfall in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan was a mix of above and below normal.

Notable Precipitation-Related Station Records:

• International Falls, MN – Wettest year on record, POR 1940-2022
• Sioux City, IA – 3rd driest year on record, POR 1893-2022
• Grand Rapids, MI – 2nd snowiest calendar year on record, POR 1904-2022
• Akron, OH – Most number of days with greater than or equal to 0.01” of precipitation (181 days), POR 1897-2022
• International Falls, MN – Most number of days with greater than or equal to 1” (25.4) of precipitation (9 days), POR 1940-2022

Drought Drought was widespread and significant across the Midwest in 2022. The year started with drought confined to the northwest portion of the region, a pattern that would persist through March (Figure 7). Then a wet and cool April brought drought relief to the upper Midwest. However, while most of the region was improving, drought in western Iowa expanded and intensified. Western Iowa would remain in extreme (D3) to exceptional (D4) drought through the duration of 2022. By mid-May, just 1 percent of the region was in drought and 7 percent was abnormally dry, marking the lowest drought extent for all of 2022 (Figure 8). Drought coverage remained low for May and early June, but hot early summer conditions paired with high atmospheric water demand quickly depleted moisture reserves. Conditions rapidly declined across the lower Midwest starting in late June (Figure 9). By late July, 42 percent of the region was dry or in drought, with the worst conditions in southern Missouri and western Iowa (Figure 10). Pockets of moderate (D1) and severe (D2) drought were spread across the entire Midwest. Total corn crop loss was reported in several southwest Missouri counties, along with feed shortages for livestock and declining surface water supplies more broadly in the western portion of the region. Conditions started to improve in August before again spreading and intensifying in September. Conditions peaked in late October with 51 percent of the region in D1-D4 drought and 31 percent abnormally dry (Figure 11). Persistent drought stress resulted in record and near-record low flows on the lower Mississippi and Ohio rivers that severely affected navigation. Burn bans, poor forage quality, and reduced hydropower production were reported across the Midwest. The year closed with drought or dryness affecting 67 percent of the region, including at least a portion of all nine states (Figure 12). The driest conditions were in western Iowa, southern Minnesota, and eastern Michigan.

Severe Weather There were 5,215 combined tornado (Figure 13), hail (Figure 14), and severe wind (Figure 15) reports across the Midwest during 2022, which was about 81 percent of the median annual frequency of severe weather reports from 2000-2021. Minnesota had the greatest number of total severe weather reports at 1,089, which was 202 percent of the median (Figure 16). Missouri and Iowa had the fewest number of severe weather reports relative to the 2000-2021 median at 61 percent and 66 percent, respectively. Regionwide, there were fewer tornado and hail reports than usual, 85 percent and 49 percent of the median, respectively, with severe wind near the long-term median number of reports.

Summary of Significant Events Multiple February Snowstorms: A winter storm on February 3-4 brought 6-15 inches of snow, along with ice and sleet, from Missouri to Michigan (Figure 17). Schools closed, flights were delayed, and an excessive number of accidents halted traffic on Interstates 39, 74, 55, and 57 in central Illinois. February 16-18 brought additional snow and ice accumulations that caused a 100-car pileup and a 2.5-day road closure on Interstate 39 in central Illinois (Figure 18). A fatal weather-induced crash on Interstate 65 also left northern Indiana drivers stranded overnight.

March 5-6 Tornado Outbreak: An early-season severe weather outbreak on March 5-6 affected Iowa, Illinois, and surrounding states with over 60 reported tornadoes, large hail, and widespread damaging winds. In central Iowa, three supercells produced 10 confirmed tornadoes, including an EF-4 that killed six people and injured five along its 70-mile path. Hailstones in Iowa ranged from golf ball- to baseball-size, and a wind gust of 81 mph was measured in Rockford, Illinois.

Cold and Windy April: April was notably windy and cold across the Midwest, with nearly 800 low temperature records broken regionwide (Figure 19). Minnesota had its 10th coldest April dating back to 1895. Winds were unrelenting. Minneapolis recorded 22 days with gusts over 35 mph, the most since 1973, when records began. St. Louis, Chicago, and Indianapolis all had gusts over 35 mph for half the days in April. In Iowa, 18 weather stations reported the greatest number of hours on record of winds exceeding 20 mph.

Extreme Heat and Humidity in Mid-May: A record-setting heatwave brought hot and humid conditions to the Midwest from May 8-14. More than 1,500 daily high temperature records were broken or tied (Figure 20). Columbia, Missouri, had six consecutive days with record-high temperatures. Three heat-related fatalities were reported in Chicago, where a three-day minimum temperature record was set (72.3°F). Many regional locations exceeded 90°F for the first time in 2022, about a month earlier than normal. Dew point temperatures in the upper 70s and lower 80s pushed the heat index over 100°F in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin during the heatwave’s peak.

Record Spring Wetness and Flooding in Northern Minnesota: Above-normal winter snowpack, delayed ice-out, and repeated rainstorms in April and May spurred widespread historic flooding across northern Minnesota that lasted into summer. International Falls had the wettest spring since record-keeping began in 1895, with over 14 inches of precipitation. Record-high streamflows and inland lake levels resulted in significant flood impacts, including damaged homes, National Guard deployments, and numerous closures of roads, trails, and recreational areas.

Multiple May Severe Weather Events in Minnesota: An unsettled weather pattern contributed to one of the most active Mays in Minnesota history. Severe weather occurred over six days and, in most cases, multiple rounds per day, totaling 568 storm reports. There were 373 severe weather warnings, the highest since 1986 when reliable record-keeping began. Fifty-one tornadoes were reported, with the most happening over Memorial Day weekend. Three confirmed EF-2 tornadoes affected Grant and Wadena counties, causing damage to power poles, agricultural structures, trees, and buildings. Reports of large hail and high winds over 80 mph were numerous.

June 13 Derecho and Extreme Heat: A straight-line wind event (derecho) stretched from Wisconsin to Ohio on June 13, yielding more than 260 severe weather reports, including a 98-mph wind gust in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Over a half-million people were without power as excessive heat and humidity settled across the region. Columbus, Ohio, measured a record-high dew point temperature of 83°F (115°F heat index) on June 14. Temperatures in Louisville, Kentucky, stayed at or above 80°F for a record 120 consecutive hours from June 12-17. Regionwide, more than 1,500 high temperature records were set from June 13-23 (Figure 21).

Historic Flash Flooding in July: A stalled weather system fueled two historic flash flood events across the lower Midwest in late July. An estimated 8-12 inches of rain fell across the St. Louis, Missouri area July 25-26, leading to numerous swift water rescues, flooded homes, closed interstate highways, and at least two fatalities (Figure 22). On July 27-28, 5-10 inches of rapid rainfall drenched eastern Kentucky, where more than 1,300 people were rescued by helicopter and boat as damaged infrastructure isolated communities, and 37 lives were lost (Figure 23). Damages for these two events totaled $1.2 billion.

Drought Rollercoaster: An extended period of low precipitation, warm temperatures, and high evaporative demand led to rapid drought intensification in late June and July across the lower Midwest, stressing crops, lawns, and streams. Conditions started to improve in August before again spreading and intensifying. By October, persistent drought stress across the north central US led to record low flows on the lower Mississippi and Ohio rivers, severely affecting navigation. Burn bans, poor forage quality, and reduced hydropower production were reported across the Midwest.

Dangerous cold and wind grip the Midwest in Late December: A powerful, fast-moving Arctic cold front brought frigid temperatures, high winds, and snow to the central US from December 22-25 (Figure 24). Dangerous wind chills from -20 to -40°F gripped the Midwest as winds gusted 30-50 mph and higher. Chicago and Des Moines clocked over 80 consecutive hours with subzero wind chills. While snowfall across the lower Midwest was a modest 1-5 inches, high winds caused extensive blowing and drifting that halted ground and air transportation for days. Localized power outages, busted water mains, frozen pipes, and at least 14 fatalities were reported across the region.

Average temperature for the Midwest during 2021 was 50.6°F, which was 1.6°F above the 1991-2020 average (Figure 1). Based on final data, 2021 ranked the 8th warmest dating back to 1895. All nine Midwestern states were warmer than normal in 2021, ranging from 0.6°F above normal in Kentucky to 2.6°F above normal in Minnesota. The upper Midwest had the greatest temperature departures, with Michigan having the 3rd warmest year on record and both Minnesota and Wisconsin having the 7th warmest year on record (Figure 2). March (8th), June (6th, tie), October (4th), and December (8th) all ranked among the top-10 warmest for the Midwest. February had the largest temperature departures of any month in 2021 at 8.4°F below normal (Figure 3). Based on final data, February ranked the 16th coldest on record.

North-South Divide on 2021 Precipitation

Annual precipitation for the Midwest was 36.61 inches, which was 1.34 inches below the 1991-2020 average. This is the lowest annual precipitation in the Midwest since 2012. Based on final data, 2021 ranked as the 48th wettest since 1895. Annual statewide precipitation totals varied across the region with a clear north-south divide (Figure 4). Precipitation totals were 0.45 inches to 3.09 inches above normal in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, and Ohio (Figure 5). Below normal annual precipitation ranging from -1 inch to -4.6 inches was measured in Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Minnesota and Wisconsin had their first year since 2012 with below average annual precipitation. Regionwide, October was the 7th wettest on record and November was the 16th driest on record dating back to 1895.

Drought Conditions

Drought conditions touched every state across the Midwest, except Kentucky, at some point during 2021. The most widespread, severe, and long-lasting drought conditions were seen across the northern and western portions of the region. Drought intensity peaked, primarily affecting Minnesota and Iowa, in August 2021. Exceptional (D4) drought was denoted in Minnesota for the first time since the U.S Drought Monitor began in 2000. On August 24th, 97 percent of Minnesota was in drought with 58 percent of the state classified as D3 (extreme) or D4 (exceptional) (Figure 6). Dry conditions throughout the northwest portion of the region stressed crops, threatened livestock, and reduced water availability. The St. Cloud dam (in Minnesota) had to turn off its generators for the first time since the drought of 1988 after water levels dropped to just 4 feet deep on the Mississippi River. Conditions gradually began to improve in Minnesota and Iowa throughout the fall, closing the year with limited areas of D1 (moderate) drought in Iowa and D2 (severe) drought in northern Minnesota. Extreme northern Illinois and much of Wisconsin ended 2021 with D1 (moderate) drought conditions as well (Figure 7).

Significant Severe Weather Events

The Midwest had an unusually quiet severe weather season during spring and early summer. Activity increased during the second half of the year with notable severe weather outbreaks on July 14 (Iowa) (Figure 8) and October 24 (Missouri and Illinois) (Figure 9). The year’s most impactful and widespread severe weather came in two separate events during December. The December 10th severe weather outbreak moved across Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, and Ohio producing 59 preliminary tornado reports and 234 high wind reports (Figure 10). The Midwest had at least 65 confirmed fatalities and about 100 injuries. Among the dozens of confirmed tornadoes that day included one long-track EF-4 tornado affecting Kentucky that was on the ground for 165.7 miles, had peak winds of 190 mph, and resulted in 55+ fatalities. Five EF-3 tornadoes were confirmed, including one that killed six people inside a heavily damaged Amazon facility in Illinois. A derecho on December 15th spawned over 70 tornadoes and destructive thunderstorms in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin killing at least two people (Figure 11).

Flooding Events

Heavy rains in southern and eastern Kentucky in late February caused record flooding on a portion of the Kentucky River. Thirteen counties declared flood emergencies as numerous highways were closed and water rescues ensued. Flooding due to heavy rainfall stretched from Missouri northeastward to Michigan on June 25th and 26th. Significant flooding closed dozens of roads across northwest Missouri. One fatality was reported in Clinton County, Missouri after a vehicle became stranded in flood waters. This same storm system led to flash flooding over the Chicago metropolitan area as 2 inches of rain fell in just a few hours. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency due to excessive flooding on June 26th. On August 12th, Gibson City, Illinois received a remarkable 10 inches of rain in just 6 hours leading to widespread flooding throughout the community. An intense storm system on October 24th and 25th brought 2 inches to 4 inches of rainfall through an area from Iowa to southern Michigan and northwest Ohio. These storms pushed numerous streams in Illinois, Indiana, and southern Michigan, to near flood stage or minor flood stage. Flooding along these river systems continued through the rest of October (Figure 12).

Late Spring and Fall Freezes for Midwest

The last spring freeze was 2-3 weeks later than normal in the Midwest, with some locations across the upper Midwest seeing freezing temperatures into the last week of May. Poplar Bluff, Missouri, had its fourth-latest subfreezing temperature since 1897. The first fall freeze was 2-4 weeks later than normal across the Midwest, with several record late first fall freezes. International Falls, Minnesota had the latest first freeze since 1897.

Agricultural Impact

An early spring warm-up paired with drier-than-normal conditions allowed farmers to begin fieldwork and crop planting earlier-than-normal. However, a late spring cold-snap along with continued dry conditions led to delayed and uneven crop development. Growing conditions turned more favorable throughout the season, allowing corn and soybeans to recover from early season damage. Corn and soybeans matured rapidly in late summer and early fall, prompting an early start to harvest. Crops dried quickly in fields, catching farmers by surprise and reducing the demand for drying and propane costs. Normal-to-dry conditions kept corn and soybean harvest ahead of schedule in the northwest whereas harvest slowed in the southeast due to excessive October wetness.

Annual precipitation averaged across the Midwest was 37.72 inches, 0.78 inches above normal. This was the eighth straight year above the 1981-2010 normal for the region. This ranked as the 37th wettest in history since 1895. Kentucky was the wettest state with 9.97 inches above normal which ranked as the 8th wettest in its history (Figure 1). Three more states had more than 2.00 inches above normal and another two (Illinois and Wisconsin) had more than 1.00 inch above normal. Indiana was barely below normal (-0.04 inches), while Minnesota (-3.75 inches) and Iowa (-5.84 inches) were well below normal. Iowa ranked as the 30th driest in its history. Wisconsin, like the region, has recorded eight straight years above normal. The six Midwest states with above-normal precipitation in 2020 all exceeded their normal annual precipitation by November, and Kentucky did so in October. Iowa had its 3rd driest August in history (Figure 2).

Midwest Experiences Above Normal Temperatures

Temperatures across the region for 2020 averaged 1.2°F above normal. This ranked 2020 as the 12th warmest since 1895, and the warmest year since 2012. All nine Midwest states were above their 1981-2010 normal by 0.9 to 1.8°F. Ohio ranked as the 7th warmest in its history and Michigan ranked 10th (Figure 3). The seven other states ranked between 13th and 26th in their respective histories. Four states (Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, and Ohio) have had six straight years above normal while the other five states, and the region as a whole, were below normal in 2019. January (9th) and November (7th) were months that ranked among the top-10 warmest for the region while October ranked as the 13th coolest in history. June, July, and December also ranked among the warmest 20 percent (top 25) of history for the region.

Drought Monitor Update

The Midwest was completely free of drought from January through May of 2020. That 21-week stretch extended to a 29-week stretch when the last eight weeks of 2019 were added making it the second longest stretch with no drought in the region since 2000. The only streak longer was during the first 32 weeks of 2019. A streak of 14 straight weeks, from mid-January to mid-April, set a new record with no abnormally dry area in the region. This topped the 12-week stretch in early 2019 with no abnormally dry conditions. Parts of the Midwest ranged from 5-20 weeks of drought for 2020 (Figure 4). Moderate drought first emerged in Minnesota in early June (Figure 5) and by the end of July had touched parts of all nine Midwest states (Figure 6). Severe drought touched parts of the five western-most states and extreme drought affected parts of southwestern Missouri and western Iowa. Parts of northwestern Iowa remained in extreme drought as the year came to an end (Figure 7).

Severe Weather and Flooding

Severe weather in the region was spread across many months, however the most newsworthy was a severe derecho on August 10. Damage was spread across Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana (Figure 8). The highest winds, over 100 miles per hour, were in central Iowa causing severe damage to crops and trees. Millions of acres of crops were flattened by the storm. As the derecho headed east the winds eased slightly but continued to do significant damage in the other states affected. Power outages affected millions in the region with many outages lasting days or even weeks in some cases. There were at least 60 injuries and 4 deaths attributed to the storm system. Two other costly severe weather outbreaks in the Ohio River Valley included one on March 27th-28th and a severe hail storm on April 7th-8th.

Flooding and flash flooding caused fatalities in the Midwest. March 20th saw six flooding deaths in Indiana when bridges were washed out near Laurel, Indiana. Flooding issues were noted especially in eastern Kentucky in February, the Ohio River flood plain in the spring but also along the Mississippi River system. In May, a Midland, Michigan dam failed due to heavy rains over three days, 17th-19th. More than 10,000 residents of Midland were evacuated in less than 12 hours with no loss of life.

Agricultural Impacts

Corn and soybean crops in the Midwest had favorable conditions in 2020 except for the areas hit by drought and the derecho. Several Midwest states had record yields for corn and/or soybeans. Corn yields were new records in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Kentucky. Soybean yields set records in both Indiana and Kentucky. Crops largely reached maturity and were harvested after drying down in the field. The lack of a need for supplemental drying was a benefit for farmers. Yield losses in Iowa were due to a combination of drought and damages from the derecho. Good harvest conditions in Iowa limited the loss from the derecho and lodged crops.

Hurricane Cristobal Remnants Reach Wisconsin

The remnants of Hurricane Cristobal moved across the region June 8th-10th. The path taken by the storm system was one of the furthest to the west and north in history. The center of the system moved across Iowa as just the second tropical system to do so. It was also just the third to make it as far north as Wisconsin.

Freeze Events

Spring freeze damage was reported in a mid-April freeze despite not being particularly late in the season. An early season freeze event occurred in the Upper Midwest on September 8th-11th. The rapid drop in temperatures, from warm conditions just prior to the freeze, exacerbated the situation.

The Midwest set a record for the wettest year in history (1895-2019) for the second straight year (Figure 1). The old record from 1993 was topped by a mere 0.33 inches in 2018. That record was easily topped in 2019 with 46.21 inches which was 3.15 inches above the 2018 total. New statewide records were recorded across the upper Midwest in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota (Figure 2). Further west, the Dakotas also set new records in 2019 for calendar year precipitation. The six other states in the region ranked among the top-10 wettest in their respective histories as well. There were 13 straight months that set new 12-month records for the region, starting in December of 2018 and continuing to December of 2019. The record Midwest 12-month precipitation total (regardless of time of year) was set with the total of 48.01 inches from August 2018 to July 2019. More than 120 stations in the region set new annual precipitation records (minimum of 30 years of records) and 30 of those stations had at least 100 years of records. Minneapolis (149 years), Rochester (100 years), and Saint Cloud (125 years) all set new records in Minnesota. In Wisconsin, Green Bay (133 years) and Racine (118 years) set new records. Michigan saw records fall in Grand Rapids (124 years) and Muskegon (118 years). Aurora, Illinois (121 years) and Columbus, Indiana (119 years) also set new records.

Slightly Below Normal Temperatures for the Midwest with State Differences

Annual averaged temperature was 48.1°F for the Midwest which was 0.5°F below the 1981-2000 normal. Temperatures ranged from about 3°F below normal in the northwestern Midwest to about 2°F above normal in the southeastern Midwest. Statewide, Minnesota averaged 2.2°F below normal which ranked as its 37th coolest calendar year (1895 to 2019). Kentucky was 1.6°F above normal, ranked 9th warmest, and Ohio was 1.2°F above normal, ranked 12th warmest (Figure 3). September was the 3rd warmest on record for the region with six of the nine states in the region ranking among their top-5 warmest, including Missouri and Ohio which set new records (Figure 4). Kentucky had 3 months (February, September, and December) ranked among the warmest 10 percent and one month (November) ranked among the coolest 10 percent of that month's history (125 years). Lexington, Kentucky recorded its warmest year (131-year history) slightly topping 1921.

Drought Monitor Update

The Midwest was free of drought during more of 2019 than any other year since the US Drought Monitor began in 2000. There were 40 of the 53 weeks in 2019 with no drought depicted across the entire Midwest. In the 19 years (2000-2018) leading up to 2019, there were a total of 108 weeks without drought across the region. No previous calendar year had more than 21 such weeks (2004) and the next highest total in any 53-week stretch had 35 such weeks (June 2004 to May 2005). The year began with 32 straight weeks having no drought in the Midwest, easily topping the old record of 14 straight weeks set in early 2016. The last eight weeks of 2019 were also free of drought in the region which was the 5th longest such streak in the 20-year record. Entering 2019, there had only been two weeks (May 21st, 2002 and May 2nd, 2017) where the entire Midwest had no areas designated as abnormally dry. During 2019, there were 15 such weeks with 12 straight from February 26th to May 14th and three more weeks from December 3rd to 17th (Figure 5). Minnesota and Wisconsin were not touched by drought throughout all of 2019.

Despite the relative lack of drought overall, an intense flash drought developed in September and October particularly in Kentucky. As of the October 1st US Drought Monitor, more than 90 percent of Kentucky was in drought (Figure 6). This was the first of three straight weeks with extreme drought (D3) in the state. The very warm (2nd warmest in 125 years) September and the record dry month in September led to rapid development of drought. Crops and surface water supplies were hard hit across the state. Contrary to the dryness in Kentucky in September, the upper Midwest was very wet with Iowa (ranked 12th), Minnesota (3rd), Wisconsin (3rd), and Michigan (7th) all ranking among the wettest 10 percent of their Septembers on record (125 years). October ranked 5th wettest for the Midwest with all nine states among the wettest 20 percent of their histories, including Kentucky which ranked 4th wettest. The October rains reduced the areas of drought in the region considerably and drought was gone from the region by the November 12th release of the US Drought Monitor (Figure 7).

Agricultural Impacts

The wet conditions in the region, especially in the upper Midwest, affected agriculture. The growing season got off to a late start due to wet conditions in the winter of 2018-2019 (3rd wettest since 1895) and spring of 2019 (5th wettest). Summer conditions saw the wetness shift to the southern Midwest with Missouri, Kentucky, and Ohio ranking among the wettest 10 percent of their summers. Fall wetness (10th wettest) further complicated the harvest with Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan particularly affected with very wet conditions. Wisconsin and Minnesota had record wet falls (1895-2019) while Michigan ranked 2nd and Iowa 6th wettest. After a late planting season, then near average temperatures in summer, crops matured late, and wet fall conditions made it tough to complete harvest.

Severe Storms and Flooding

There were three deadly tornadoes in the Midwest in 2019, each causing one death. Two struck on May 22nd, an EF-2 tornado near Adair, Iowa and an EF-3 tornado near Barton, Missouri. The other fatality was from an EF-3 tornado that struck near Mercer, Ohio on May 27th.

Flooding was notable in the Midwest due to both the high flood stages and long-lived nature of the events. Rock Island, Illinois on the Mississippi River set a record flood stage, topping the old 1993 record value. Major flooding along the upper Mississippi River lasted more than a month and set records for duration at multiple locations. Flooding struck on the Missouri, Ohio, Mississippi, and many tributaries. March flooding damages in Iowa alone topped 1.6 billion dollars (Figure 8).

Annual averaged temperatures in the Midwest were near normal (Figure 1). The entire region was within 2°F of normal when averaged over the entire year. There were however periods of both warm and cold that offset each other. April was the 2nd coolest on record (1895-2018) while May set the record as warmest for the region. Other months were quite warm (June ranked 13th warmest and September ranked 15th warmest) or cool (November ranked 11th coolest) as well. There were notable swings in temperature across the region in 2018. Spring saw a sudden jump from cold in April to warm in May and fall had a similar sudden transition from warmth in September and the first 10 days of October to cold in the rest of October and November. There were also big swings of temperature in January, July, and December in 2018. Statewide temperatures set records in three months. April had new record cold in Iowa and Wisconsin. May had record warmth in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, and Ohio. Ohio set another record for warmth in September. There were numerous other top-10 rankings for states including top-10 warmth in February (Kentucky and Ohio), May (all nine Midwest states), June (Iowa and Missouri), August (Michigan), and September (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio). Top-10 statewide rankings on the cool side occurred in April (all nine Midwest states) and November (Illinois and Missouri).

Record Breaking Precipitation

Precipitation was record breaking on the wet side in 2018 (Figure 2). The Midwest as a whole was just wetter than 1993 (using preliminary data for December) with an average of 42.88 inches across the region. Statewide totals ranked among the wettest in their histories (1895-2018) with Iowa, Kentucky and Wisconsin ranking 2nd wettest, Ohio 3rd, Indiana 5th, Michigan 11th, and Minnesota 17th. Only Missouri had below-normal annual precipitation falling 0.27 inches short of normal. Statewide values ranked among the wettest in several months including February, June, August, September, October, and November. Missouri also had a top-10 driest month in April. More than 120 stations in the region set new annual precipitation records (minimum of 30 years period of record) with dozens of those stations having periods of record exceeding 100 years. Some of the bigger cities that set such records in 2018 were Louisville and Lexington in Kentucky, Columbus in Ohio, Waterloo in Iowa, and Green Bay in Wisconsin. Each of these cities had period of record of at least 124 years.

Less than 10 Percent of Midwest in Drought

Drought in the Midwest began 2018 with just under 10 percent of the region in drought (Figure 3). In the summer drought expanded and intensified, particularly in Missouri and southern Iowa but also in Michigan, peaking in mid-August before being completely eradicated by the end of 2018. At its peak in August, nearly 20 percent of the region was in drought, with more than 8 percent in severe drought and 0.77 percent in exceptional drought (the highest category) (Figure 4). More than 43 percent of the region was classified in drought or abnormally dry in mid-August but by the end of the year there was no drought and less than 1 percent of the region was classified as abnormally dry which was the lowest percentage since May of 2018.

Problematic Flooding

Flooding was a problem in the region for a good part of 2018. Flooding started in February and continued to pop up as a problem throughout the year as heavy rains fell, particularly in two large areas: northern Iowa to southern Wisconsin and into neighboring areas and also in the Ohio River Valley. During the year, at least 14 fatalities were attributed to flooding or flash flooding in the Midwest. Property damages were estimated at more than $300 million through September with data for the last three months still pending. Crop damages in Iowa and Wisconsin alone topped $17 million.

Severe Weather Events

Severe weather in the Midwest was not typical with very little in April, near the climatological peak, and yet with tornadoes in both January and December. The December 1st tornado outbreak in Illinois set a new state record with 28 tornadoes (Figure 5). There were about 500 homes damaged and 22 injuries in the EF-3 tornado that struck Taylorville, Illinois on the 1st. There was also a deadly tornado near Aurora, Missouri the previous day. Another significant severe weather event was the sinking of a duck boat in the Ozarks of Missouri on July 19th (Figure 6). The duck boat was being used to give a tour on the lake when a severe thunderstorm whipped up large waves and sank the boat.

Agricultural Impact

Spring planting, especially in the northern half of the region, was delayed due to wet and cold conditions in March and then cold and snowy conditions in April. Wet fields in the fall also affected harvest in many areas with fields too wet, and in some cases with standing water, to allow tractors into the fields.

Snow Events

Winter weather struck in April in the north bringing records snows to Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The storm had snow totals of more than 2 feet in many locations. Green Bay, Wisconsin set a record for its snowiest April on record 36.7 inches which also ranked as the 2nd snowiest month all-time (December 2008). A blizzard hit on the Thanksgiving weekend in late November snarling air and ground traffic from Kansas City to Chicago.

Annual averaged temperatures in the Midwest were well above normal. The region as a whole averaged 1.8°F above normal ranking it as the 8th warmest year (records began in 1895). All nine Midwest states ranked among the warmest 10 percent (top-12) of their records with each ranking between 5th and 12th (Figure 1). January (9th), February (2nd), and April (12th) ranked among the warmest 10 percent for the region as a whole, with six, nine, and eight states likewise ranked among the warmest 10 percent in those respective months. New record high average temperatures in April were set at some stations with very long histories in Kentucky (Louisville and Lexington, both with records back to 1872) and Ohio (Akron 1887, Cleveland 1871, and Columbus 1878). The old April records at Columbus, Louisville, and Lexington were from 1896, more than 120 years ago. August was notably cool with three states ranking among the coolest 10 percent of their records — Illinois 10th, Iowa 8th, and Missouri 7th. Warmth in September had Michigan and Wisconsin ranked among the warmest 10 percent. Following a hot and humid spell in mid-July, there was a cool 6-week period that extended into early September. Temperatures in the latter half of September were, for many Midwest locations, the hottest of the year. Chicago had a string of seven consecutive record high days, September 20th-26th, each with maximum temperatures above 90°F. December was generally warm for the first three weeks but then around Christmas temperatures fell to much below normal. The last seven days of the year were the coldest of the season, and for most locations the coldest of 2017. Temperatures dropped to -40°F in northern Minnesota and to 0°F as far south as Missouri and Kentucky. The 7-day period had average minimum temperatures below 0°F for most of the northern half of the region.

Variable Precipitation

Precipitation was generally on the wet side (ranked 27th wettest since 1895) in 2017 for the Midwest but there was a lot of variability (Figure 2). Michigan had its wettest year, and Ohio (7th) and Wisconsin (8th) also ranked among the wettest years while Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri were below normal. In February, Illinois and Missouri ranked among the driest 10 percent. From April through November, each month except September had at least one state ranked among the wettest 10 percent in their history. There were a total of 15 cases of a state with a monthly value among the wettest 10 percent during these months with all nine states having at least one. Missouri in April and Michigan in October set records for the wettest month. Tecumseh, MO (period of record, 1942-present) received 17.48 inches of precipitation in April, breaking the previous monthly precipitation record of 14.43 inches set in 1957. In September, the remnants of Hurricane Harvey brought heavy rains to Kentucky in the first few days of the month while three states (Illinois, Michigan, and Missouri) ranked among the driest 10 percent. More dry months were recorded in November (Missouri ranked 11th driest) and December (Iowa 5th and Illinois 7th). Spring ranked as the 6th wettest for the Midwest while the fall saw numerous extremes of both wet and dry.

Isolated Drought Conditions

Drought in the Midwest during 2017 was limited in areal coverage but still intense in a few locations. The year began with moderate drought mostly in Missouri (Figure 3). Drought expanded to a peak at 13 percent of the Midwest in March before spring rains wiped out all Midwest drought (Figure 4). In early May, there was no drought and no abnormally dry areas in the region for the first time since May of 2002. Late summer and fall saw new drought development around the region with southern Iowa having extreme drought from mid-August to early October. Areal coverage peaked at about 12 percent of the region in early October when scattered areas of drought touched every Midwest state except Kentucky. In the last three months of 2017, drought expanded in Missouri and neighboring parts of Iowa and Illinois while ending in other parts of the Midwest except in north central Minnesota.

Below Normal Snowfall

Seasonal snowfall for the winter of 2016-17 was well below normal for much of the region. The only above-normal areas were in northwestern Minnesota and a swath from north central Iowa to northeastern Wisconsin. The southern half of the Midwest had seasonal totals ranging from 10 to 50 percent of normal. It was a slow start to the 2017-18 snow season overall. The first significant snow of the season fell in late October in northern Minnesota and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with totals up to a foot. There was little snowfall in November. Lake-effect snows began in earnest in early December as the nearly ice-free and relatively warm Great Lakes provided ideal conditions. Heavy snow fell down wind of the lakes through mid-December and then again in the last week of the year. Away from the Great Lakes, in southern Minnesota through southern Wisconsin, seasonal snowfall deficits topped 10 inches. A number of lakes in southern and central Minnesota froze in November but then melted again. Most Minnesota lakes were frozen over by mid-December.

Late Spring Freeze, Early Fall Freeze for Some

There was a late freeze in northern and eastern parts of the Midwest in May. Freezing temperatures touched all Midwest states except Missouri. Temperatures fell below 25°F in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan with reports of damage to fruit trees in Michigan. An early freeze on August 25th in the Arrowhead of Minnesota and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, brought the growing season to an early end.

Total Solar Eclipse

The total solar eclipse on August 21st was the first to pass across the Midwest since 1925. The path of totality crossed Missouri, southern Illinois, and western Kentucky and the remainder of the region had a partial eclipse. Viewing in the Midwest was generally good but a frontal boundary limited viewing for parts of Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and northern Illinois.

Widespread Flooding in April

Heavy rains in the southern Midwest in late April, brought widespread flooding. Southern Missouri was very hard hit with locations picking up more than 10 inches of rain in just two days. Interstate 44 was closed after parts of the roadway were washed away by floodwaters. Four deaths and more than 100 rescues were related to flooding in southern Missouri. Many Midwest corn and soybean fields had ponding or saturated soils that caused many acres to be replanted.

Deadly Tornadoes

There were four deadly tornadoes in 2017 with five deaths. Two tornadoes in Illinois killed three on February 28th, another in Missouri the same day killed one, and a Wisconsin tornado on May 16th was responsible for 1 death and 25 injuries. Iowa had a busy day early in the year, with 18 tornadoes on March 6th. On November 5th, 21 Midwest tornadoes included 17 in Ohio alone. The Ohio tornado count for the day was nearly equal to the average annual total of 20 tornadoes.

Wind Event

Non-thunderstorm winds were deadly in three other cases in 2017. On March 8th, two deaths were caused when high winds blew down a tree onto a vehicle. On May 17th, strong winds in Missouri downed a rotten tree killing one person and in central Illinois died in a multiple vehicle accident caused by low visibility in a dust storm.

Annual averaged temperatures in the Midwest were well above normal (Figure 1). The region as a whole averaged 2.6°F above normal ranking it as the 4th warmest year (records began in 1895). The warmth was fairly consistent throughout the year with each season above normal. March and fall (September through November) were particularly warm with all four months among the warmest 10 percent of the historical record. Only April, May, and December were at or slightly below normal. March and November averaged more than 6°F above normal. September and October averaged over 4°F above normal, and February, June, and August were at least 2°F above normal. The states were all well above normal as well, all nine states ranked 3rd to 6th in their respective histories for the year. Seven months had statewide values in the warmest 10 percent. February (1 state), March (all 9 states), June (2), August (5), September (7), October (6), and November (8) all had at least one state among the warmest 10 percent. All nine Midwest states had multiple months ranking among the warmest 10 percent: Michigan had 6 months, Indiana and Kentucky had 5, Minnesota had 2, and other 5 states had 4 such months.

Variable Precipitation

Precipitation was generally on the wet side in 2016 for the Midwest but there were exceptions. August was the wettest on record for the region and July was 4th wettest (Figure 2). January was the 13th driest, just outside the driest 10 percent, and June and November were also in the driest 33 percent of the 122-year record. Wisconsin and Minnesota received about 120 percent of normal precipitation for the year, ranking each state as the 2nd wettest in its history (1895-2016). Michigan and Iowa were about 110 percent of normal in 2016, ranking them 10th and 18th. Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky were just slightly above normal while Ohio (95 percent of normal) and Missouri (92 percent) were slightly drier than normal. October in Kentucky (ranked 11th) and November in Ohio (also 11th) were the only statewide monthly values that ranked among the dries 10 percent. Only Ohio failed to record a single month among the wettest 10 percent. Minnesota had five months in the wettest 10 percent (March, July, August, September, and December). New annual precipitation records were set in dozens of locations in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. A new statewide record for precipitation in Minnesota was set at Waseca with 56.24 inches. Station records were also set at Minneapolis, Minnesota and LaCrosse, Wisconsin where records extend back to before 1881.

No Severe Weather Deaths

There were no tornado deaths in the nine-state Midwest region in 2016. This is just the third such year (1970, 1989, 2016) in Storm Prediction Center records that date back to 1950. Despite the lack of tornado deaths, there were Midwest weather related fatalities due to thunderstorm winds, flooding, and traffic accidents.

Drought Emerged in Late Summer

The year began with 14 straight weeks lacking any Midwest drought, the longest such streak in the history of the US Drought Monitor that dates back to 2000. Drought emerged in late summer affecting much of Ohio and parts of Indiana and Michigan. Following heavy rains in Kentucky in the summer, the fall was quite dry in Kentucky and drought emerged and quickly intensified there. Fall forest fires were numerous and large in eastern Kentucky due to the abundant fuels and dry conditions. A wet December in Kentucky led to the elimination of drought in the state by the end of the year. As the year wrapped up, just over 1 percent of the region was in drought limited to two small areas of southern Missouri. Midwest drought extent peaked at just over 11 percent of the region in November. The region had been free of severe drought since May of 2015 until two small areas cropped up in July and August but in each case, they only lasted for one week. From November to mid-December, severe drought and a small amount of extreme drought affected the southeastern part of the region (Figure 3). This extreme drought was the first occurrence of extreme drought in the region since 2013.

Agricultural Impact

Much of the Midwest had a good growing season with good crop conditions for both corn and soybeans. The main exception was in Ohio and Michigan where summer heat and dryness affected crop conditions negatively. Wet conditions at times in some locations had significant effects on field work but overall, the conditions were favorable.

December Flooding

Flooding from heavy rains in December 2015 continued into January of 2016 (Figure 4). River levels in Illinois and Missouri in particular were problematic but dropped back below flood levels early in the year. Very heavy rains in 2016 affected the tri-state area of Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin on multiple occasions leading to record annual precipitation totals in this area. Many stations had exceeded their previous record a month or more before the end of the year. Another heavy rain event hit western Kentucky in July with totals topping 15 inches at multiple stations in the area (Figure 5).

Later than Normal Fall Freeze, Mid-May Freeze

The first fall freeze in the Midwest was later than normal in 2016 for most locations. In most locations the first freeze occurred two to four weeks later than the median date for a first freeze. After a warm fall and late first freeze, an Arctic blast in mid-December brought the coldest December temperatures since 2013 (and it some cases much longer) to most Midwest locations.

A hard freeze in western and southern Wisconsin in mid-May caused damage to fruit trees. Many trees had blossomed before the hard freeze and 10 counties in Wisconsin were declared natural disasters.