Temperature

Temperatures were generally 4-7°F above normal across the region (Figure 1). Average temperatures were most above normal over the Ohio Valley, where some spots were up to 8°F above normal. Temperatures were only slightly above normal or near normal across the Upper Midwest.

Minimum temperatures were also above normal across the region, generally by 3-6°F, with areas both below and above that range (Figure 2). Minimum temperatures were as much as 8°F above normal in Kentucky and Missouri, and closer to normal in northern Minnesota. At Hale Loud Dam, Michigan, a station with records dating back to 1913 observed a temperature of 58°F on April 29, which was one of the 10 warmest minimum temperatures on record for that station in April.

Maximum temperatures were over 10°F above normal across southern Michigan, northern Indiana, and northwest Ohio (Figure 3). For most of the region, they were generally 4-8Deg;F above normal, and in the far northern Midwest, they were near normal. Detroit, Michigan had its first 85°F+ observation of the year when the temperature hit 86°F on April 29, which was also the earliest 85°F+ observation in the calendar year since 2012.

Precipitation/Severe Weather/Drought

Precipitation was above normal by over 200 percent across much of the far northern Midwest (Figure 4). Precipitation was well below normal across central Michigan, Greater Milwaukee, and much of Illinois. For the Ohio Valley, Missouri, and Iowa, precipitation was slightly below to near normal. Most of the region observed less than 2 inches of precipitation for the week, and where it was above it wasn’t by much (Figure 5).

Severe weather occurred on several days this week. An EF0 tornado was confirmed by the National Weather Service in Wilmington, Ohio on April 25, causing minor damage to a structure in Darke County. A larger outbreak occurred over the Upper Midwest on April 28, with several brief tornadoes confirmed in Minnesota and Wisconsin. An EF1 tornado with winds that reached 110 mph touched down near Faribault, Minnesota causing damage to several semi and tanker trailers. There were also reports of large hail, including hen egg size hail in Rock County, Minnesota, and a similar report on the same day in Lyon, County, Iowa. Severe weather moved south and east on April 29, with multiple EF0 and EF1 tornadoes confirmed near Springfield, Missouri. However, many of the storm reports on April 29 were the result of straight-line winds, with a 90 MPH wind gust recorded in Springfield.

Improvements were made to drought conditions this week, as D2 (severe drought) was removed from Minnesota and some D1 (moderate drought) was removed from Iowa (Figure 6). This is the first time since September 2024 that no D2 conditions exist in Minnesota.