Average temperatures were above normal across the Upper Midwest (Figure 1). Parts of northern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (UP) were 6-8°F above normal for the week. Many places from I-80 southward were near normal. Some areas of Missouri and western Kentucky were up to 2°F below normal for the week.

Minimum temperatures averaged above normal for a large swath of the region (Figure 2). The Upper Midwest was at least 5°F above normal for the week. In Marquette, Michigan, a minimum temperature of 76°F was observed on July 14, which was the warmest low temperature ever recorded for Marquette since records began in 1961. Some parts of the Ohio River Valley were also 4-6°F above normal. Minimum temperatures were near normal to the west, with parts of Missouri slightly below normal for the week.

Maximum temperatures were generally 3-6°F above normal across the Upper Midwest (Figure 3). The northernmost sections of Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin were 5-10°F above normal. Maximum temperatures were quite anomalous for some locations. In Marquette, the temperature rose to 96°F on July 13, making it the warmest temperature in Marquette since 2006. In International Falls, Minnesota, temperatures were at or above 95°F for two consecutive days, July 12-13, for the first time since 1995. Areas between I-80 and I-70 were near normal, while the southernmost areas—southern Illinois, eastern Missouri, southern Indiana, and Kentucky—were 0-3°F below normal for the week.

Precipitation/Missouri Flooding/Drought

Precipitation was lackluster, with little to no measurable rainfall across the Upper Midwest (Figure 4). Precipitation was mostly below normal, if present at all, for much of the region outside the southernmost locations. Significant precipitation totaling over 300 percent of normal was observed across southeastern Missouri, southern Illinois, and much of Kentucky.

Rainfall across the southern locations was significant and resulted in flash flooding and water rescues on July 10. A summer camp with more than 200 staff and children was airlifted to safety when floodwaters washed away nearby roads. One person died in the flooding when their home was swept off its foundation by rushing water in Crawford County, Missouri. The Black River near Annapolis, Missouri rose rapidly and crested at 28.73 feet, which surpassed the old record crest of 27.4 feet set in 1993.

There were minimal changes in drought conditions from July 7 to July 14. Nearly 70 percent of the region has no drought conditions at all (Figure 5). Meanwhile, D0 conditions (abnormally dry) still cover 30 percent of the region, roughly unchanged from the prior week. D1 conditions (moderate drought) expanded slightly from 8.5 percent to over 10 percent, with degradations noted mostly over Michigan’s UP, Minnesota’s Arrowhead region, and northern Wisconsin. D2 conditions (severe drought) were mostly unchanged, save for the removal of severe drought from parts of southern Kentucky.

Severe Weather

There were just under 200 reports of severe weather this week (Figure 6). Most of these were wind reports. A few brief and weak tornadoes and funnel clouds were reported across Illinois and Missouri July 9-11. Some straight-line winds across Missouri on July 10 reached 70-80 mph. There was a report of a large tree down on a mobile home in Benton County, Missouri.

Temperatures were above normal, particularly early in the week as a heat dome lingered across the region (Figure 1). Eastern locales such as Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, average temperatures were 5-10°F above normal. Across Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin, temperatures averaged roughly 3-6°F above normal. West of the Mississippi River, temperatures averaged mostly 2-4°F above normal, with slightly higher departures immediately along the river.

Minimum temperatures were most above normal to the east (Figure 2). Across parts of northern Ohio and Lower Michigan, minimum temperatures were 10-12°F above normal. Most of the region observed minimum temperatures that were 5-10°F above normal. Areas west of the Mississippi River observed the smallest departures, with minimum temperatures in parts of Minnesota and Missouri just 2-4°F above normal. In Flint, Michigan, minimum temperatures remained at or above 75°F for two consecutive days, July 1-2, for the first time in July since 1977. In Grand Rapids, minimum temperatures remained at or above 75°F for three consecutive days, June 30-July 2, for the first time since 2013.

Maximum temperatures were 6-9°F above normal across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (UP), Minnesota’s Arrowhead region, eastern Michigan, and Ohio (Figure 3). Across the rest of the region, maximum temperatures were 3-6°F above normal, though some of the western areas were closer to normal for the week.

Precipitation/Drought

Precipitation was most above normal along I-80 from northern Ohio through Iowa and southern Minnesota (Figure 4). Some cities including, but not limited to, Des Moines, Iowa; Chicago, Illinois; South Bend, Indiana; and Toledo, Ohio received over 300-400 percent of normal precipitation for the week. In Goshen, Indiana, 1.82 inches of precipitation was observed on July 4 making it the wettest Independence Day on record there since records began in 1914. Other parts of the region did not see nearly as much precipitation, which included many areas along and south of the I-70 corridor, as well as some of the northernmost parts of the region. There was little to no precipitation across Michigan’s UP, northern Wisconsin, Missouri, Kentucky, southern Indiana, and southwestern Ohio.

There were minimal changes to drought conditions across the Midwest from June 30 to July 7 (Figure 5). There was a slight 0.64 percent increase in D0 (abnormally dry) conditions, which occurred mostly over Missouri and southern Illinois. Improvements were less than 1 percent across the region for the D1 (moderate drought) and D2 (severe drought) categories and were concentrated mostly over Minnesota.

Severe Weather

There were over 500 storm reports this week (Figure 6). More specifically, there were 437 wind reports, 72 hail reports, and 11 tornado reports. On July 1, severe weather across Wisconsin produced 2-3 inch hail in Fond Du Lac and Sheboygan counties. On July 2, hail reaching 3-3.5 inches in diameter—nearly the size of baseballs—were reported in Iowa. On July 3, a downburst in Wisconsin produced straight-line wind gusts of 100 mph in Walworth County. Winds from this storm struck near the town of Darien where five people were injured by falling concrete. The same storm then crossed Lake Geneva, a popular boating destination, where a boat carrying 10 people drowned causing seven injuries and three deaths. Later in the week, an EF2 tornado with estimated peak winds of 115 mph caused 2 injuries in Becker County, Minnesota, which is in the state’s northwestern quadrant.

Average temperatures were slightly below normal for most of the period (Figure 1). Temperatures were 1-3°F below normal across much of the region, with some areas up to 4°F below normal for the week. Conversely, a look at the final two days of the period alone, June 29-30, reveals that temperatures were well above normal, often by 5-10°F as a heat dome began to settle over the region (Figure 2).

Minimum temperatures were mostly near normal across the region (Figure 3). There were some pockets of slightly below-normal minimum temperatures, particularly across the Upper Midwest. There were also areas of slightly above-normal minimum temperatures across southern areas.

Maximum temperatures were 5-10°F below normal for much of the region (Figure 4). The greatest departures from normal were along and south of I-80. Despite this, maximum temperatures did rise above normal to end the period, with much of the region 3-6°F above normal from June 29-30 (Figure 5).

Precipitation/Drought

Precipitation departures varied across the region, with some areas receiving above-normal precipitation and others receiving below-normal precipitation. Many areas across the southern tier of the region observed over 200 percent of normal precipitation, and some parts of southern Indiana and central Kentucky observed over 400 percent of normal precipitation (Figure 6). Meanwhile, parts of northwestern Missouri, western Iowa, western Michigan, and Wisconsin observed less than 50 percent of normal precipitation. Precipitation was near or slightly below normal for much of Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (UP). Evansville, Indiana, observed its wettest 7-day period in June since records began in 1897, with a total of 8.09 inches of precipitation from June 22 through June 28. This made it Evansville’s 2nd wettest June on record.

With frequent rainfall, drought conditions improved across the region from June 23 to June 30 (Figure 7). D0 (abnormally dry) decreased, covering less than 30 percent of the region. D1 (moderate drought) and D2 (severe drought) improved across western Iowa, southern Missouri, and Kentucky. D3 (extreme drought) was eliminated from Kentucky.

Severe Weather

There were over 300 reports of severe weather this week (Figure 8). There were 200 wind reports, 18 high-wind reports, 97 hail reports, and 7 large-hail reports. On June 29, a severe weather outbreak in northern Minnesota brought hail the size of golf balls and hen eggs to Aitkin County. On the same day, a personal weather station in Dickinson County, Iowa, observed a 75-mph straight-line wind gust, and an NDAWN station in Jackson County, Minnesota, reported an 80-mph straight-line wind gust.

There were also 18 tornado reports throughout the period. In Missouri, on July 26, an EF1 tornado with estimated peak winds of 95 mph occurred in Douglas County. On the same day, a brief EF0 tornado touched down in Clark County, Indiana. On June 27, several brief EF0 and EF1 tornadoes touched down across southern Illinois, southern Indiana, and Kentucky. On June 29, an EF1 tornado briefly touched down in rural St. Louis County in Minnesota. On June 30, a brief EF0 tornado touched down in Michigan’s UP, the first there since 2021.

Average temperatures were 2-4°F below normal across southern areas (Figure 1). Heading north, average temperatures were 4-6°F below normal across much of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and parts of Ohio. Across the Upper Midwest, average temperatures were up to 8°F below normal.

Minimum temperatures averaged 0-2°F below normal across southwestern Missouri (Figure 2). For much of the rest of the region, minimum temperatures were generally 2-6°F below normal. Across northern Iowa and Minnesota, minimum temperatures were 6-8°F below normal.

Maximum temperatures averaged up to 10°F below normal across Wisconsin and Michigan (Figure 3). Some areas of Michigan along Lake Michigan averaged up to 12°F below normal. Across Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, and Ohio, temperatures were generally 4-8&;F degrees below normal. In Missouri, maximum temperatures were 2-4°F below normal. At several locations, temperatures remained in the 60s, making it the coldest summer solstice on record. In Peoria, the maximum temperature was only 68°F on June 21, the coldest maximum temperature on the summer solstice since records began there in 1883.

Precipitation/Drought

Precipitation was above normal in areas that received significant rainfall from severe weather. Precipitation was over 200 percent of normal from Iowa into Illinois, Indiana, and southern Ohio (Figure 4). There was also above normal precipitation across northern Lower Michigan. Much of the region, however, experienced below normal precipitation. This was the case across much of Missouri, where parts of the state observed little to no precipitation. Similarly, dry conditions were observed across western and central Iowa, southern Minnesota, southern Wisconsin, southern Illinois, and western Kentucky.

From June 9 to June 16, overall drought conditions receded across the region (Figure 5). There was a nearly 10 percent decrease in D0 conditions (abnormally dry) and a 3 percent decline in D1 conditions (moderate drought). There was a less than 1 percent increase in D2 conditions (severe drought) over northern Minnesota and D3 (extreme drought) over parts of the Kentucky Coalfields.

Severe Weather

There were over 500 reports of severe weather this week. 118 were tornado reports, 144 were hail reports, and 398 were wind reports (Figure 6). On June 16, severe weather produced hail the size of ping-pong balls and golf balls over Michigan and 70-80 mph straight-line wind gusts in Iowa.

A larger, more severe outbreak occurred late on June 17 and into the early hours of June 18, as storms moved across several states. There were many confirmed tornadoes because of this outbreak. In central Illinois, an EF3 tornado with estimated peak winds of 150 mph spent 31.8 miles on the ground near Effingham. The Effingham tornado caused significant damage to several structures, including a single-family home, with multiple injuries reported near the town of Teutopolis. A tornado in southern Indiana had estimated peak winds of 130 mph and spent 23.6 miles on the ground. The southern Indiana tornado toppled steel electrical transmission lines while also causing 1 injury and the deaths of 6 cattle.

Average temperatures were above normal for the entire region (Figure 1). Departures ranged from 2-6°F above normal west of the Mississippi River to as much as 10°F above normal across eastern areas.

Minimum temperatures were above normal by up to 12°F across eastern Ohio (Figure 2). All locations east of the Mississippi River 5-10°F above normal. Much of Iowa, northern Missouri, and Minnesota were 3-6°F above normal for the week.

Maximum temperatures were 4-8°F above normal across eastern Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio (Figure 3). Much of the rest of the region was near to only slightly above normal by 2-4°F.

Precipitation/Drought

Precipitation was above normal for a large swath of the region including Missouri, southern/eastern Iowa, Illinois, Northwest Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin (Figure 4). In some of the aforementioned locations, precipitation was at least 300 percent of normal, occasionally exceeding 400-500 percent. In northwestern Iowa and Ohio, precipitation was lackluster, with less than 50 percent of normal observed in some areas.

From June 2 to June 9, drought conditions changed minimally. The largest change was less than 3 percent removal of D0 (abnormally dry), which happened mostly over Illinois (Figure 5). There were slight expansions of less than 2 percent across the D1 (moderate drought) and D2 (severe drought) categories, mainly across northern Minnesota. There was a slight decrease in D4 (extreme drought) in Kentucky.

June 10-11 Severe Weather

This was one of the most active weeks of the year thus far, with well over 1,000 storm reports in every state of the region (Figure 6). 1,205 reports were made for wind alone, but there were also 101 tornado reports and 92 hail reports. The vast majority of these storm reports were made as a result of storms moving through the region June 10-11. On June 10, tennis ball-sized hail was reported across Minnesota, and 80-90 mph straight-line wind gusts were reported in Wisconsin. These winds were the result of a confirmed derecho that swept through northern Illinois and northern Indiana.

More storms occurred on June 10, though these were discrete cells that produced several strong tornadoes. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Northern Indiana reported at least 13 confirmed tornadoes ranging from EF0 to EF3 strength. This included a long-track EF3 with estimated peak winds of 165 mph that spent 22 miles on the ground. This tornado tracked across Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties, tearing down high-tension power trusses in its path. The NWS Central Illinois Weather Forecast Office similarly confirmed 12 tornadoes between June 10 and June 11, ranging from EF0 to EF3. In Illinois, 2 tornadoes rose to EF3 strength, one of which had estimated peak winds of 145 mph and caused 7 injuries in Livingston County.

Temperature

Average temperatures were mostly above normal, particularly to the north and west (Figure 1). Across Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, temperatures averaged 5-10°F above normal. Heading south and east, average temperatures were mainly 3-6°F above normal across Illinois, Michigan, and Missouri. Average temperatures were 1-3°F above normal across Indiana and Ohio, while temperatures were near normal along and south of the Ohio River in Kentucky.

Minimum temperatures were above normal by 4-8°F for most areas west of the Mississippi River (Figure 2). Across Illinois and Wisconsin, minimum temperatures were 2-6°F above normal. Across Indiana, minimum temperatures were near normal. Across Lower Michigan, eastern Ohio, and Kentucky, minimum temperatures were slightly below normal by 1-3°F.

Maximum temperatures were 4-8°F above normal for much of the Upper Midwest (Figure 3). Some parts of far northern Minnesota were up to 10-12°F above normal. Maximum temperatures were near normal along and south of the Ohio River.

Precipitation/Drought

Precipitation was generally below normal, with parts of the Ohio River Basin receiving no precipitation (Figure 4). Some isolated pockets received heavy precipitation from scattered thunderstorms, particularly across northwestern Missouri and central Minnesota, which brought observed precipitation into the 200 percent of normal range. Elsewhere, precipitation was limited and scattershot, with less than 50 percent of normal precipitation for much of the region.

There were both improvements and degradations across various categories and locations this week (Figure 5). In Kentucky and southern Missouri, conditions improved in the D1 (moderate drought) and D2 (severe drought) categories. In northern Illinois, D0 (abnormally dry) and D1 were expanded. Similar degradations were made across Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

Severe Weather

There were over 100 storm reports this week, with 117 specifically defined as wind reports (Figure 6). Many of these occurred as part of a squall line that moved across Ohio on June 6. There were also 6 tornado reports from the same outbreak, which ultimately became 6 confirmed EF1 tornadoes with estimated peak winds between 90-110 mph.

Average temperatures across the northwest quadrant of the region were as much as 8-10°F above normal. Eastern areas, such as eastern Michigan and Ohio, were slightly below normal for the week (Figure 1). Average temperatures were near normal along I-65 from Chicago before climbing slightly above normal in southern Kentucky.

Minimum temperatures averaged above normal for much of the region (Figure 2). Across western Minnesota, minimum temperatures were up to 10°F above normal. Meanwhile, across eastern Indiana, eastern Michigan, and northern Ohio, temperatures were slightly below normal.

Maximum temperatures were above normal across northern Illinois, Iowa, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Minnesota, and Wisconsin (Figure 3). Across northern Minnesota, maximum temperatures were up to 12°F above normal. Across eastern and southern parts of the region, maximum temperatures were below normal, generally by 2-4°F.

Precipitation/Drought

Precipitation was below normal for much of the region, with no observed precipitation across southern Wisconsin and eastern Iowa (Figure 4). The Upper Midwest observed precipitation at 10-50 percent of normal. Across Kentucky, southern Missouri, and southern Ohio, observed precipitation exceeded 200 percent of normal in some areas.

Precipitation alleviated drought concerns across southern parts of the region. As of May 26, only 5 percent of Kentucky remained under D3 (extreme drought), a significant improvement from May 19, when 41 percent of the state was under D3 conditions. Still, over 80 percent of the state was under at least D1 (moderate drought) as of May 26. There was also improvement of D3 conditions across the Missouri Bootheel. Elsewhere, D0 (abnormally dry) conditions expanded, particularly across the Upper Midwest (Figure 5).

Storm Reports

There were almost 200 storm reports this week, with 117 wind reports and 62 hail reports (Figure 6). There were 3 tornado reports, including one confirmed EF0 tornado in Butler County, Kentucky, with peak winds of 85 mph. Later in the period, a severe weather event on May 31 brought hen-egg-sized hail to Clinton County, Missouri. Straight-line wind gusts on May 31 rose to 82 mph at Kansas City Downtown Airport.

Temperatures were above normal by 2-4°F for much of the region (Figure 1). Some areas across the southern Great Lakes and Kentucky observed average temperatures up to 6°F above normal. Meanwhile, across Minnesota, temperatures were near to slightly below normal.

Minimum temperatures were 4-6°F above normal for much of the region (Figure 2). Some pockets of northern Indiana, the Greater Chicago area, southern Illinois, and southern Missouri observed minimum temperatures as much as 6-8°F above normal. Across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (UP) and Minnesota, minimum temperatures averaged near to slightly below normal.

Maximum temperatures were 3-6°F above normal along the I-80 corridor and also through much of Kentucky (Figure 3). Across parts of Michigan, they were as much as 6-9°F above normal. Maximum temperatures averaged near to slightly above normal elsewhere, save Minnesota, where temperatures ran up to 6-9°F below normal in parts of the state.

Precipitation/Drought

Precipitation was scattered about the region, with above-normal totals across parts of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio, and northern Lower Michigan (Figure 4). Other areas, like southern Missouri, central Michigan, and the Kentucky Coalfields, observed precipitation that was less than 50 percent of normal. Continued heavy precipitation over southern Indiana kept the White River elevated at minor flood stage at several gauges.

Drought conditions remained largely unchanged from May 12 to May 19. There were slight increases across all categories, though most of the drought expansion occurred over Kentucky (Figure 5).

Storm Reports

There were over 700 storm reports this week, with 547 wind reports and 143 hail reports (Figure 6). There were also specifically 40 tornado reports, most of which occurred over Iowa and Missouri with a multi-day severe weather event. 18 tornadoes occurred across northern Iowa on May 17 alone, including 11 EF1 tornadoes. On May 18, the storm pushed eastward, with wind gusts exceeding 80 mph reported across Michigan. In Detroit, a gas station canopy was blown down by strong storms.

Average temperatures were below normal across much of the region (Figure 1). The Upper Midwest observed average temperatures up to 10°F below normal. Departures were slightly more across northern Lower Michigan. Heading south, temperatures were less anomalous, with average temperatures 2-6°F below normal. West of the Mississippi River in Iowa and northern Missouri, average temperatures were near to slightly below normal for the week.

Minimum temperatures averaged below normal (Figure 2). Anomalies were most pronounced across Kentucky, southern Missouri, and the Upper Midwest, where minimum temperatures were 5-10°F below normal.

Maximum temperatures were most below normal across the Upper Midwest (Figure 3). More specifically, maximum temperatures were over 10°F below normal across northern Lower Michigan, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and northern Minnesota. Across Indiana and Ohio, maximum temperatures were generally 2-6°F below normal. West of the Mississippi River in Iowa, Missouri, and southern Minnesota, maximum temperatures were near to above normal by 3-6°F.

Precipitation/Drought

Precipitation was lackluster, with little to no precipitation west of the Mississippi River (Figure 4). Across the eastern and northern portions of the region, precipitation remained mostly below normal, with less than 40 percent of normal for much of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, southern Michigan, and southern Ohio. There were pockets of near- to slightly above-normal precipitation across eastern Ohio and northern Lower Michigan.

From May 5 to May 12, drought remained largely unchanged across the region (Figure 5). D0 conditions (abnormally dry) had the largest expansion from 19 to 24 percent coverage, with most of that occurring across Minnesota and western Iowa. Slight increases in D2 (severe drought) and D3 (extreme drought) were observed over Kentucky.

Severe Weather

There was minimal severe weather this week with 16 wind reports, 1 high wind report, and 5 hail reports (Figure 6). Several wind reports occurred when a cluster of storms moved across Cleveland, Ohio. Gusts reached 60 mph, causing downed trees and power lines.

The first week of May was below normal for the entire region (Figure 1). Much of the region was at least 5°F below normal for the week. For many locations, it was the coldest start to May in at least 10 years. In International Falls, Minnesota, this week ranked the 6th coldest first week of May since records began in 1897.

Minimum temperatures averaged 5-10°F below normal (Figure 2). Isolated areas in Kentucky and Missouri observed minimum temperatures that averaged more than 10°F below normal. Some locations along the Lake Superior shore observed near-normal minimum temperatures.

Maximum temperatures were below normal by varying magnitudes (Figure 3). Across northern Minnesota and central Indiana to the Ohio/Pennsylvania border, maximum temperatures were up to 10-12°F below normal. For much of the region, maximum temperatures were generally 5-10°F below normal. Across Iowa and northwestern Missouri, maximum temperatures were 2-4°F below normal. In International Falls, the temperature rose to only 36°F on May 5, marking the coldest maximum temperature in May since 2013.

Precipitation/Drought

Across the Upper Midwest, there was little to no precipitation (Figure 4). Much of Illinois, Kentucky, and Missouri observed precipitation that was 25-75 percent of normal. Across the southern half of Indiana and northern Ohio, precipitation was generally above normal.

From April 28 to May 5, drought conditions were virtually unchanged (Figure 5). Minor changes were made across the D0 (abnormally dry) and D1 (moderate drought) categories.

Severe Weather

There were fewer than 100 storm reports this week (Figure 6). There were 38 hail reports and 18 wind reports. Most of these occurred during an outbreak on April 4, which brought wind and hail to Illinois and Missouri.

Average temperatures were above normal by 3-6°F (Figure 1). Across northern and western Minnesota, temperatures averaged near normal.

Minimum temperatures were above normal across most of the region. Isolated parts of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin observed minimum temperatures that were over 6°F above normal, though much of the region remained in the 3-6°F above normal range (Figure 2). Across far western Minnesota, minimum temperatures were near to slightly below normal.

Maximum temperatures were 4-8°F above normal (Figure 3). Across much of Minnesota, temperatures were near normal. In St. Cloud, Minnesota, the temperature rose to 87°F on April 22, marking the warmest April temperature there since 2004.

Precipitation/Drought

Precipitation was over 200 percent of normal along I-70 stretching from Kansas City, Missouri, to Columbus, Ohio, (Figure 4). There was also significantly above normal precipitation across northwestern Wisconsin and Minnesota’s Arrowhead region. Elsewhere, precipitation was near to slightly below normal for the period.

D0 (abnormally dry) and D1 (moderate drought) both decreased in coverage across the region from April 21 to April 28 (Figure 5). Improvements were made along the Ohio River and across Iowa and Minnesota. Degradations were made in the D2 (severe drought) and D3 (extreme drought) categories across Kentucky and the Missouri Bootheel.

Severe Weather

There were over 600 storm reports this week, which included 489 wind reports, 160 hail reports, and 42 tornado reports (Figure 6). On April 26, large hail up to 2 inches was reported with an outbreak over western Missouri, causing damage to the roofs of several RVs. On April 27, more hail hit Missouri, with hail up to 3.5 inches in size, or the size of tennis balls, reported in Lawrence County. Multiple tornadoes were confirmed across the region on April 27, which included five EF1 tornadoes across Central Illinois alone. The longest EF1 tornado spent 15.5 miles on the ground between Galesville, Illinois, and Mahomet, Illinois. In total, the April 27-28 outbreak brought at least 15 tornadoes to the Midwest, ranging from EF0 to EF1 strength.

Average temperatures were above normal for much of the region, generally by 4-8°F (Figure 1). Across Minnesota and Michigan’s UP, average temperatures were near normal, and even slightly below normal across northern Minnesota.

Minimum temperatures were most above normal to the east (Figure 2). Much of Indiana, Lower Michigan, and Ohio observed minimum temperatures 6-10°F below normal. Anomalies were less pronounced heading north and west. Minimum temperatures averaged below normal across Minnesota and northwestern Iowa.

Maximum temperatures were above normal almost everywhere (Figure 3). Across much of the Upper Midwest, maximum temperatures were 3-6°F above normal. Across the Ohio Valley, they were 6-9°F above normal, while southern Iowa and northern Missouri were as much as 12°F above normal in spots.

Precipitation/Drought

Precipitation was scattered across the region this week. For much of Missouri, Illinois, eastern Iowa, southern Wisconsin, northern Indiana, and Lower Michigan, precipitation was at least 200 percent of normal (Figure 4). Over southern Wisconsin, precipitation was over 500 percent of normal in spots. In Burlington, Wisconsin, 4.08 inches of precipitation fell on April 18, marking the 5th-wettest single-day since records began there in 1948. Jackson, Michigan, observed 2.30 inches of precipitation on April 15, which was the 3rd wettest April day on record since records began in 1944.

Drought conditions remained largely unchanged from April 14 to April 21. There were minor changes across all drought categories (Figure 5). There was an 8 percent decrease in abnormally dry (D0) conditions across the region.

Severe Weather

There were over 900 storm reports this week, including 352 hail reports, 446 wind reports, and 120 tornado reports (Figure 6). Some severe weather occurred on April 15 and 16, specifically large 2-3 inch hail in Iowa, Missouri, and northern Ohio. On April 15, 1 injury occurred in Daviess County, Missouri, when large hail triggered a car accident. On April 16, straight-line winds caused 1 injury in Christian County, Kentucky, when a tree was blown down onto a house.

The vast majority of storm reports this week occurred on April 17. A prolific severe weather outbreak occurred across Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, southern Wisconsin, and southeastern Minnesota. As of April 21, at least 80 tornadoes were confirmed by NWS damage surveys. Across the NWS Central Illinois forecast area, 34 tornadoes occurred alone. Five tornadoes rose to EF2 strength, and 24 were rated EF1. The NWS Chicago office confirmed that 12 tornadoes touched down across their forecast area, including one that rose to EF2 strength with winds of 115 mph. In the Quad Cities area, 8 tornadoes were confirmed, including a high-end EF2 tornado with peak winds of 130 mph that may have had multiple vortices. In Buffalo County, Wisconsin, a tornado rose to EF3 strength with winds of 140 mph.

Temperature

Average temperatures were mostly above normal (Figure 1). Average temperatures were 2-8°F above normal across much of the Upper Midwest and 6-12°F above normal from I-80 southward. In northern Minnesota, average temperatures were slightly below normal by 2-6°F.

Minimum temperatures were above normal by 4-10°F for many places south of I-80 (Figure 2). Across parts of southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri, minimum temperatures were 10-12°F above normal. Parts of the Upper Midwest were 2-6°F above normal, though much of northern lower Michigan and Minnesota were near normal.

Maximum temperatures were above normal by 4-8°F for much of the region (Figure 3). Across southern parts of the region, maximum temperatures averaged up to 10°F above normal, while some of the region’s northernmost locations were near to below normal for the week.

Precipitation/Drought

Precipitation was well above normal across parts of Wisconsin and Michigan, where as much as 750-1000 percent of normal precipitation was observed (Figure 4). Much of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio observed below normal precipitation, if any at all. Precipitation was varied for areas west of the Mississippi River. While cities like Kansas City, Missouri, and Des Moines, Iowa, observed near- to above-normal precipitation, precipitation was below normal in much of Minnesota, including the Twin Cities.

As of April 14, drought conditions were varied across the region. Improvements were made across Iowa, Illinois, and northern Missouri, all of which saw precipitation in the prior week. D1 (moderate drought), D2 (severe drought), and D3 (extreme drought) all expanded slightly across Kentucky and southern Missouri (Figure 5).

Upper Midwest River Flooding

Precipitation was most abundant across parts of central Wisconsin and northern lower Michigan. Some areas received up to 8 inches of precipitation this week alone (Figure 6). In Green Bay, Wisconsin, 4.52 inches of precipitation fell between April 12-14, making it the wettest 3-day period in April since records began there in 1886. 1.82 inches of precipitation fell in Green Bay on April 13, making it the wettest April day there since 1994. In Houghton Lake, Michigan, 2.97 inches of precipitation fell on April 12, making it the wettest April day there since records began in 1913. Heavy precipitation, combined with warming temperatures and a rapidly melting snowpack, resulted in widespread river flooding across the Lower Peninsula. On April 14, a levee on the Little Black River breached, which prompted an evacuation order for low-lying areas near Cheboygan, Michigan. The Muskegon River crested at record levels in multiple locations, including at Bridgeton, Michigan, and Newaygo, Michigan, where it rose to 19.7 feet and 17.9 feet, respectively.

Severe Weather

There were over 500 reports of severe weather this week, with over 300 reports of hail alone (Figure 7). Many of these occurred in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, though almost every state in the region was affected. Many of the hail reports were made on April 13 across Minnesota and Wisconsin. In Minnesota, egg-sized hail was reported in Rice County. In Watonwan County, Minnesota, there were reports of tennis-ball-sized hail. A supercell on April 14 produced 3-inch hail, the size of baseballs, in Buchanan County, Iowa.

Tornadoes were also prevalent this week. The National Weather Service office in the Quad Cities area has confirmed 4 tornadoes as of this writing, 3 of which reached EF1 strength. The National Weather Service office in La Crosse, Wisconsin, confirmed one EF1 tornado on April 13 and an EF3 tornado with estimated peak winds of 140 mph on April 14. In Michigan, at least 6 tornadoes were confirmed on April 14.

Average temperatures were above normal south of I-80 and near to below normal to the north and west (Figure 1). Across Kentucky, southern Indiana, and southern Ohio, temperatures averaged as much as 12-15°F above normal for the week. Temperatures were generally near normal right along I-80 from Des Moines, Iowa, to Chicago, Illinois. Across parts of Minnesota, temperatures averaged up to 12°F below normal.

Minimum temperatures averaged above normal to the south and east (Figure 2). Locations along either side of the Ohio River were the most above normal, often by 10-12°F+. Minimum temperatures were near normal for most of the Upper Midwest, save Minnesota, where they averaged below normal by 2-4°F.

Maximum temperatures were above normal for southern and eastern locations (Figure 3). Parts of Kentucky and Ohio were as much as 12-16°F above normal, while much of the larger Ohio River Basin was 8-12°F above normal. The area around Chicago was near normal, while most places north of I-80 were below normal. The northernmost areas were up to 12°F below normal, and a section of western Minnesota observed average maximum temperatures up to 16°F below normal for the week.

Precipitation/Drought

Precipitation was above normal for much of the region, with many areas observing 300-400 percent of normal precipitation (Figure 4). Isolated areas observed precipitation that was over 500 percent of normal for the week. Precipitation was only below normal across the southern halves of both Indiana and Ohio, as well as far southern Illinois, southeastern Missouri, and much of Kentucky. For some locations, this week captured the wettest April days in a decade or more. In Sioux City, Iowa, 1.80 inches of precipitation fell on April 2, making it the wettest April day since 2016. In Green Bay, Wisconsin, 1.61 inches of precipitation fell on April 2, which was the highest single-day total in April since 2011. In Viroqua, Wisconsin, a station with records dating back to 1893 observed 2.24 inches of precipitation, which was the largest single-day total in April there since 2013.

Drought conditions improved across the region from March 31 to April 7. D0 (abnormally dry) now covers less than 50 percent of the region (Figure 5). D1 (moderate drought) decreased from 24 percent coverage to 15 percent coverage, while D2 (severe drought) also saw a slight improvement. Even D3 (extreme drought) was erased completely from northwestern Ohio, leaving a sliver of D3 in southern Missouri.

Severe Weather

There were just over 200 storm reports this week (Figure 6). While half of those were wind reports, there were 62 reports of hail and 18 reports of a tornado. The largest outbreak came on April 2 and produced both large hail and tornadoes across Illinois and Iowa. 2-inch hail was reported in several spots across eastern Iowa, and damage to two police cars was observed in Washington County. In Carroll County, Illinois, hail rose to over 3 inches.

Five tornadoes were reported across eastern Iowa and western Illinois. Four tornadoes rose to EF1 strength while one was rated an EF0. The longest tornado path was an EF1 that tracked 18.1 miles from Clinton County, Iowa, into Jackson County, Iowa, with estimated peak winds of 105 mph. This tornado snapped several power poles and destroyed over ten outbuildings and sheds. Another EF1 with estimated peak winds of 90 mph tracked 4.1 miles across Sterling, Illinois, and caused a 3000-pound HVAC unit to roll over.

Temperatures averaged above normal for most of the region (Figure 1). Average temperatures were as much as 10°F+ above normal in parts of Missouri. Most of the region was 4-8°F above normal, save far northern parts of the region, where temperatures averaged near normal.

Minimum temperatures averaged above normal for much of the region (Figure 2). While some areas were near to slightly above normal, other areas, particularly across southern Missouri and Kentucky, were closer to 6°F above normal.

Maximum temperatures were up to 15°F above normal across from I-55 westward (Figure 3). Even across the Ohio River Valley, maximum temperatures were generally 5-10°F above normal. Only across the far north were maximum temperatures near to slightly below normal.

Precipitation/Drought

Precipitation was lackluster as most areas west of the Mississippi River ended the week with little to no precipitation (Figure 4). Precipitation was only near- to above normal across central Indiana and central Ohio. This was due to a front that slowed over these areas, bringing multiple rounds of heavy precipitation. One station in Bellefontaine, Ohio, with records dating back to 1894, observed 2.20 inches of precipitation on March 27, making it the third wettest day in March on record and the wettest since 1913 at that station.

There was minimal progression in drought conditions across the region this week. D0 (abnormally dry) and D1 (moderate drought) both expanded by under 5 percent (Figure 5). D2 (severe drought) improved for several areas across Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Missouri. D3 (extreme drought) was erased across eastern Illinois and improved across northwestern Ohio.

Severe Weather

There were over 300 storm reports this week, with over 200 hail reports and 95 wind reports (Figure 6). The first outbreak occurred on March 26 across Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. The March 26 outbreak brought several brief EF0 and EF1 tornadoes across Indiana and Ohio. However, this outbreak was notable for its hail, with some reports of hail reaching 2-3 inches in diameter, nearly the size of a lemon.

Most of the wind reports came on the final day of the week, March 31, when severe weather ripped through northern Indiana and northern Ohio. A mesonet station near Cleveland, Ohio, reported a wind gust of 75 mph. Meanwhile, a brief EF1 tornado with estimated peak winds of 95 mph touched down in Defiance County, Ohio, while an EF0 touched down in Wayne County, Ohio.

Temperatures were varied across the region. Average temperatures were above normal across southwestern Missouri by 2-4°F for the week (Figure 1). Across the Upper Midwest, average temperatures for the week were as much as 6-8°F below normal. The region’s midsection from Illinois eastward into Ohio was near to slightly below normal for the week.

Minimum temperatures were mostly below normal. Departures were greatest across northern Minnesota, where minimum temperatures were over 10°F below normal (Figure 2). Across Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio, minimum temperatures were generally 1-4°F below normal.

Maximum temperatures were above normal for many locations south of I-80 (Figure 3). More specifically, maximum temperatures averaged up to 10°F above normal for the week across parts of western Missouri. North of I-80, maximum temperatures were below normal by 3-6°F, though parts of northern Michigan were up to 10°F below normal.

Record High Temperatures on March 21

A warm front lifting across the Midwest on March 21 resulted in some of the warmest March temperatures on record. There were over 200 record high maximum temperature records set across the Midwest this week (Figure 4). Much of the region saw temperatures in the 70s, already pushing 20-30°F above normal at many observing locations. However, the most anomalous heat was west of the Mississippi River, where temperatures rose well into the 90s. Sioux City, Iowa, recorded a temperature of 95°F, which was 45°F above normal and the warmest temperature recorded in March in Sioux City since records began in 1889. In Kansas City, Missouri, the temperature rose to 93°F, which was 35°F above normal and the warmest temperature ever observed in March in Kansas City since records began in 1888. In Des Moines, Iowa, a maximum temperature of 91°F tied the previous all-time maximum temperature record for March. In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a temperature of 89°F was 40°F above normal and the warmest temperature recorded in March since records began there in 1893.

Precipitation/Drought

Precipitation was most heavily concentrated across the Upper Midwest, particularly Wisconsin and Michigan, where it was over 500 percent of normal in spots (Figure 5). Across western Missouri, precipitation was near zero to 10 percent of normal. The area from Missouri eastward into Ohio received nearly 50 percent of normal precipitation. Across the Upper Midwest, precipitation largely fell as snow, with up to 40 inches of snow in snowbelt locations along Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (Figure 6). In Marquette, Michigan, 21.7 inches of snow fell, making it the second-largest single-day snowfall in March since records began in 1961.

Drought conditions diminished across the region from March 10 to March 17 (Figure 7). D0 conditions (abnormally dry) now cover less than half the region, down from over 60 percent just one week prior. D1 (moderate drought) decreased by over 6 percent, mostly over Illinois and Missouri, while D2 (severe drought) decreased by over 2 percent across central Illinois.

March 15 Tornadoes

A severe weather outbreak on March 15 spawned several EF0 and EF1 tornadoes across Illinois, Kentucky, and Missouri. The tornado with the longest path was an EF1 just southwest of Louisville, Kentucky. This tornado spent 43.8 miles on the ground with estimated peak winds of 110 mph. Not far from Caneyville, Kentucky, the tornado struck 3 head of cattle that were killed, leaving behind nearly $7,000 in damages. The next-longest tornado was an EF1 in Illinois that spent 13.6 miles on the ground between Montgomery and Christian counties, with estimated peak winds of 98 mph.

Temperatures were above normal for the entire region (Figure 1). The greatest departures were across the Ohio Valley, with areas near Cleveland, Ohio, as much as 16-18°F above normal for the week. Anomalies were lower to the north and west, with most of the region anywhere from 6-12°F above normal.

Minimum temperatures were above normal for the entire region (Figure 2). Across the east, minimum temperatures were as much as 12-14°F above normal. Heading north and west, much of the region was 5-10°F above normal. In Indianapolis, Indiana, a minimum temperature of 64°F was observed on March 10, which was the warmest minimum temperature in March since 2012 and tied for the second warmest March minimum temperature on record.

Maximum temperatures were well above normal (Figure 3). The entire state of Ohio, southeastern Michigan, and northeastern Indiana were over 15°F above normal for the week. Many areas from St. Louis, Missouri, to Louisville, Kentucky, were 12-15°F above normal for the week. Maximum temperature departures were lower to the north and west, though still above normal by 5-10°F. Maximum temperatures were closer to normal for the week across the far north. In Chicago, temperatures remained above 60°F for five consecutive days from March 6 to March 10, the longest such stretch in March since 2012.

Precipitation/Drought

Precipitation was abundant across the Upper Midwest, where northern Minnesota, Michigan, and northern Wisconsin all observed precipitation at least 200 percent of normal (Figure 4). Some parts of Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Ohio saw similarly anomalous precipitation. Precipitation was less than 25 percent of normal across portions of Iowa, southern Minnesota, and southern Wisconsin. Much of the precipitation was rain, though across the far northern parts of the region, precipitation largely fell as snow. Lakeshore areas of northern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula observed over a foot of snow (Figure 5).

From March 3 to March 10, drought conditions improved across the region (Figure 6). D0 conditions (abnormally dry) improved across Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, and Ohio. D1 conditions (moderate drought) saw the largest improvements—over 8 percent—mainly across Illinois and Missouri. D2 conditions (severe drought) improved across Illinois, western Kentucky, and Missouri. D3 conditions (extreme drought) slightly improved across eastern Illinois and Indiana.

March 10th Severe Weather

Northern Indiana experienced a severe weather outbreak on March 10, producing several tornadoes. The most significant tornado was a long-track EF3 with sustained winds of 150 mph, lasting 36.4 miles on the ground. This tornado caused significant structural damage along its path and resulted in 11 injuries and 3 deaths. An EF1 tornado spent 10 miles on the ground in Jasper County, Indiana, causing damage to homes and resulting in 3 injuries. An EF1 tornado spent over 14 miles on the ground in Starke County, Indiana, with a damage survey indicating that multiple funnels may have caused damage along its path.

Temperatures were above normal for almost the entire region, save a small corner of northwestern Minnesota (Figure 1). Southernmost areas were as much as 14-16°F above normal for the week. Temperatures averaged 5-10°F above normal for much of the Midwest.

Minimum temperatures were above normal by 10-15°F across southern parts of the region (Figure 2). Much of the rest of the region was 5-10°F above normal for the week. In eastern Michigan and northwestern Minnesota, minimum temperatures were near normal.

Maximum temperatures were above normal by 10-15°F in much of Kentucky, southern Illinois, southern Indiana, and southern Missouri (Figure 3). Across the region’s midsection, maximum temperatures were mainly 5-10°F above normal. In South Bend, Indiana, the temperature rose to 76°F on March 6, the earliest date on which a maximum temperature exceeded 75°F in the calendar year since 2000. In West Lafayette, Indiana, the maximum temperature rose to 81°F on March 6, which was the earliest temperature above 80°F in the calendar year since records began at that station in 1944.

Precipitation/Drought

Precipitation was abundant this week with over 500 percent of normal precipitation along I-70 from Missouri to Ohio (Figure 4). Much of the region observed at least 200 percent of normal precipitation. Only across parts of Kentucky and the far northern tier of the region was precipitation below normal for the period. Much of the precipitation was in the form of rain, though some light to moderate snow accumulations occurred across the Upper Midwest and just north of I-70 (Figure 5).

Drought expansions were made in every category from February 24 to March 3 (Figure 6). The largest expansions were in the D0 (abnormally dry) and D1 (moderate drought) categories. In Ohio, D0 expanded to cover over 60% of the state by March 3, a nearly 40 percent increase in coverage since February 24. In Iowa, D1 grew to 43 percent coverage, up over 17 percent from February 24. Michigan was the only state where conditions remained unchanged between February 24 and March 3.

March 6 Michigan Tornado Outbreak

A severe weather outbreak spawned several tornadoes ranging in magnitude from EF0 to EF3 across southern Michigan on March 6. The strongest tornado, an EF3 with maximum winds of 160 mph, was on the ground near Union City, Michigan, for 5.2 miles and caused 12 injuries and 3 deaths. The 3 deaths occurred when the tornado lifted several manufactured homes into the air and tossed them onto the ground. Several vehicles and a 500-gallon propane tank were lifted and tossed by this tornado. An EF2 tornado with peak winds of 130 mph and a path length of 10.7 miles touched down in nearby Three Rivers, causing another 12 injuries. An EF1 tornado with peak winds of 95 mph touched down in nearby Edwardsburg, causing the death of a 12-year-old boy when it hit the home he was inside.

Temperatures averaged below normal for much of the region (Figure 1). Temperatures were most below normal across northern Minnesota, where they averaged 6-8°F below normal. Elsewhere, temperatures were only slightly below normal, generally by 1-5°F.

Minimum temperatures were 2-5°F below normal for most of the region (Figure 2). In northern Minnesota, minimum temperatures were as much as 10°F below normal. In parts of Ohio, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (UP), and western Missouri, minimum temperatures were closer to normal.

Maximum temperatures were below normal for many locations across the Upper Midwest and east of the Mississippi River (Figure 3). Across Missouri and northwestern Iowa, maximum temperatures were 3-6°F above normal. A stretch of warm weather at the end of the week brought 70°F + temperatures to some of the region’s southern states on multiple days. In Springfield, Missouri, the month ended with 6 days with temperatures above 70°F, the third most days above 70°F for the month of February since 1888.

Precipitation/Drought

Precipitation was minimal for much of the region, with many areas reporting no precipitation (Figure 4). Eastern areas saw the most precipitation, though it was less than 50 percent of normal. Only in northern Michigan was precipitation near to above normal for the week. Precipitation largely fell as light to moderate snowfall across eastern and northern areas. Some lakeshore locations, particularly in Michigan’s UP, received a foot or more of snow (Figure 5).

Drought persisted and even slightly expanded across certain areas from February 17 to February 24 (Figure 6). The largest expansion was made in the D1 category (moderate drought) across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Missouri. Simultaneously, conditions slightly improved across the Upper Midwest.

Temperatures averaged 10-15°F above normal for almost the entire region (Figure 1). The most anomalous location this week was southern Wisconsin, where some locations were over 16-18°F above normal for the week.

Minimum temperatures were 8-12°F above normal for most of the region (Figure 2). Across Minnesota and Wisconsin, minimum temperatures were even more anomalous, with some observing locations over 15°F above normal.

Maximum temperatures were 10-15°F above normal for much of the region (Figure 3). For much of Iowa, northern Illinois, and southern Wisconsin, maximum temperatures were as much as 20°F+ above normal. In Red Lake Falls, Minnesota, a station with records dating back to 1913 recorded a maximum temperature of 53°F on February 17, which is the warmest February temperature in Red Lake Falls since 1958. In the Quad Cities area, temperatures rose above 60°F for 4 consecutive days, tying for the 2nd-longest stretch of 60°F days in February since 1871.

Precipitation/Severe Weather/Drought

Precipitation was most abundant across the Upper Midwest, where some locations were as much as over 500 percent of normal (Figure 4). Another belt of above-normal precipitation occurred along I-70 from St. Louis, Missouri, to Columbus, Ohio. Precipitation was less than 50 percent of normal across northern Illinois, southeastern Iowa, and Ohio’s lakeshore. Precipitation largely fell as snow across the north, where parts of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula received nearly two feet of snow (Figure 5).

Significant precipitation and severe weather occurred late on February 19 as part of a strong low pressure system moving through the region. In Indianapolis, Indiana, 1 inch of rainfall was observed on February 19, making it the wettest February day since 2022. In London, Ohio, a station with records dating back to 1918 observed 1.65 inches of precipitation. The 5th wettest February day on record. The system was most notable for its severe impact, with several confirmed tornadoes across Illinois and Indiana. 6 tornadoes were confirmed across Illinois, including an EF1 near Hardinville in Crawford County that threw a mobile home off its foundation, injuring an elderly woman in the process. At least 3 tornadoes were confirmed in Indiana, one of which tore through Bloomington and damaged several structures in the process.

From February 10 to February 17, drought improved in some areas while declining in others. The largest expansions were made over Missouri and Illinois, particularly in the D1 (moderate drought) and D2 (severe drought) categories (Figure 6) Even D3 (extreme drought) expanded across eastern Illinois and now covers over 3 percent of the region. Conditions improved most across Iowa and Kentucky.