Temperature

The average March temperature for the Midwest was 42.7°F, which was 5.8°F above the 1991-2020 normal (Figure 1). Temperatures ranged from near normal across the far north, warming to 6 to 10°F above normal across the south (Figure 2). Statewide average temperatures ranged from 3.0°F above normal in Michigan to 8.4°F above normal in Kentucky. Final rankings indicate that the Midwest had its 8th warmest March on record, with 5 states ranked among the top 10 warmest (Kentucky-4th, Missouri-4th, Illinois-5th, Indiana-6th, Iowa-Tied 6th, Ohio-7th). Persistent warmth was a dominant feature across most of the region throughout March, except for a few days mid-month when temperatures were well below normal. High temperatures across the central and lower Midwest surged into the 70s and 80s around March 10-11, accompanied by unseasonable humidity. On March 11, dew point temperatures reached the mid-60s across Missouri, central Illinois, central Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. Around March 21, a record-setting heat dome that had been building across the western U.S. crept eastward, briefly surging temperatures to over 90°F in Iowa and Missouri (Figure 3). On March 21, Sioux City, Iowa, had its warmest March day on record and its earliest 95°F day on record, dating back to 1896. The previous record was set on April 15, 2002. On March 22, St. Louis, Missouri, had its 2nd-earliest 90°F day on record in 151 years of recordkeeping. On March 26, Springfield, Illinois, had its 2nd-earliest 90°F day on record, with 146 years of observations. Columbia, Missouri, had a record-setting 10 days in March with maximum temperatures at or above 80°F. Cincinnati, Ohio, had 13 days with maximum temperatures at or above 70°F, the most on record for March in the past 152 years. Most long-running weather stations across the lower half of the Midwest had a top 10 warmest March (Figure 4).

Precipitation

March precipitation totaled 3.27 inches for the Midwest, which was 0.7 inches above normal, or 127 percent of normal (Figure 1). Precipitation was above normal for much of the region, with notable wetness (200 to 300 percent of normal) across Michigan, northeast Wisconsin, central and northern Illinois, central and northern Indiana, and the southern half of Ohio (Figure 5). Conversely, precipitation was 25 to 70 percent of normal throughout Kentucky, the western half of Minnesota, and along the Missouri-Iowa border. Statewide precipitation totals ranged from 1.44 inches below normal in Kentucky to 2.42 inches above normal in Indiana. Final rankings indicate that Michigan had its 3rd-wettest March on record, and Indiana and Ohio had their 13th-wettest. A very active weather pattern brought consecutive storm systems through the Midwest in March. Across the southern half of Indiana and into southern Ohio, monthly precipitation totals ranged from 7 to 10 inches (Figure 6). Columbus, Indiana, and Cincinnati, Ohio, both had 4 days in March with at least 1 inch of rainfall, which tied the monthly record. In northern Michigan, several long-running observation sites (with over 100 years of data) recorded their wettest March on record, including Petoskey, Lake City, West Branch, and East Tawas. In northwest Ohio, Bowling Green had its wettest March in 131 years, and Toledo had its 3rd wettest in 154 years.

Snowfall

March snowfall totals were above average across Wisconsin, northern Michigan, and much of Minnesota. Across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, snowfall totals ranged from 20 to 80 inches for the month (Figure 7), which was about 10 to 50 inches above normal (Figure 8). Herman, Michigan, set a new one-day snowfall record for March—and possibly a new statewide all-time single day record—when 34 inches was measured on March 16, 2026. Herman also had its second snowiest March on record, with 77.5 inches. Incredibly, about 70 inches of Herman’s snow total was accumulated over 7 days ending the morning of March 17. In addition to Herman, Wetmore, and Three Lakes recorded their snowiest week on record after multiple intense storm systems traversed the Great Lakes, dumping 60 to 70 inches of snow across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Across Wisconsin, snowfall totaled 6 to 37 inches above normal for March as multiple storms affected the region. Of note, a winter storm and blizzard on March 14-17 brought widespread snowfall totals of 10 to 30 inches across Wisconsin, with locally heavier amounts (Figure 9). In the Tip of the Mitten, Ephraim measured 30 inches of snowfall on March 17 alone, which, if verified, would be a new statewide all-time single-day record. Florence, Wisconsin, reported 29 inches on March 16, which also exceeds the current statewide 24-hour snowfall record. The same powerful winter storm that dropped record snow totals in Wisconsin and Michigan also affected southern Minnesota, with 2-day (March 15-16) totals of 12 to 25 inches. Warmer-than-normal temperatures in late March melted away most of the snowpack in Minnesota and Wisconsin by month’s end, but across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, snow depth on March 31 remained above normal at 12 to 40 inches.

Drought

March ended with 53 percent of the Midwest designated as abnormally dry or in drought by the U.S. Drought Monitor (Figure 10), which is about 15 percent less than at the start of the month (Figure 11). The central Midwest had the most notable gains, with 1 to 3 class improvements throughout wide swaths of Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio (Figure 12). Nearly all of the Extreme (D3) drought that had plagued the central Midwest since last fall was eliminated, but for a small area in northwest Ohio and southern Missouri. Extremely wet conditions nearly erased all traces of drought or dryness in Michigan and Wisconsin. Conversely, drought expanded in northwest Iowa and western Kentucky, and eastern Kentucky concluded March abnormally dry.

March 6: Deadly Michigan Tornadoes

On March 6, a severe thunderstorm developed in northern Indiana and moved northeast into southern Michigan, where it went on to produce four confirmed tornadoes that resulted in at least 4 fatalities and 22 injuries. The strongest of the tornadoes touched down near Union City, Michigan, and was rated an EF-3 by the National Weather Service with maximum winds reaching 160 mph. Three of the four fatalities occurred with the Union City tornado, making it Michigan’s deadliest March tornado on record.

March 10: Tornado Outbreak and Record Hail

A severe weather outbreak on March 10 produced at least 23 confirmed tornadoes and a wide swath of large hail (2 to 6 inches) across the central Midwest, extending from Kansas City, Missouri, northeastward into western Michigan (Figure 13). The most notable supercell from the event traversed the Kankakee River Valley in northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana. That single storm spawned a family of 12 distinct tornadoes, including the primary tornado, rated an EF-3 (max winds up to 160 mph), which resulted in 3 fatalities. The Kankakee storm also produced hail in excess of 6 inches (15.2 cm) in diameter, which, if confirmed, would become a new statewide record for Illinois.

March 14-17, 2026: Severe in the South, Historic Snow in the North

A strong low-pressure system tracked across the Midwest from about March 14-17, bringing tornadoes and high winds to the lower Midwest and a historical snow event to the upper Midwest. In the south, an intense squall line moved from west to east, producing at least 30 confirmed tornadoes along with straight-line winds up to 70 mph on March 15 ahead of a strong cold front (Figure 14). In the upper Midwest, Wisconsin and northern Michigan had snowfall rates up to 4 inches per hour along with thundersnow and winds 40-70 mph, resulting in massive drifting and whiteout conditions on March 15. A second round of snow and blizzard conditions followed on March 16, along with intense lake-effect snow across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and northern Michigan. Three-day snowfall totals (March 14-17) ranged from 1 to 4 feet across a wide swath of the upper Midwest, with locally heavier amounts (Figure 15).

Temperature

The average February temperature for the Midwest was 30.7°F, which was 4.4°F above the 1991–2020 normal (Figure 1). Temperatures were 4 to 10°F above normal in the west, transitioning to 2 to 4°F below normal in the east (Figure 2). Statewide average temperatures ranged from 8.1°F above normal in Iowa to 0.8°F below normal in Ohio. Final rankings indicate that both Iowa and Minnesota recorded their 11th- and 13th-warmest Februarys, respectively, since 1895. Anomalous warmth blanketed the western half of the region for much of the month, with it briefly spreading eastward mid-month. Sioux City, Iowa, tied its 2nd warmest February day since 1889 when the high temperature reached 75°F on February 9, 2026. For the month, Kansas City, Missouri, had a record-setting 15 calendar days with the maximum temperature at or above 60°F. In Iowa, Sioux City and Des Moines also had a record number of days at or above 60°F. A handful of long-running weather stations in the western half of the region had a top 10 warmest February (based on average temperatures), including Kansas City (5th warmest), Sioux City (8th warmest), and Winnebago (MN, 8th warmest). While locations in the east were below normal, none of the monthly temperatures approached any records. The average winter (December–February) temperature for the Midwest was 25.5°F, which was exactly normal (Figure 3). Winter temperatures were above normal in the west, near normal along the Mississippi River corridor, and below normal in the east (Figure 4).

Precipitation

February precipitation totaled 0.91 inches for the Midwest, which was 0.93 inches below normal, or 49 percent of normal (Figure 1). Final rankings show the Midwest recorded its 11th-driest February since 1895, tying with 1969. Precipitation was near to above normal across the far upper Midwest and isolated areas of central Ohio and southwest Missouri (Figure 5). Elsewhere, precipitation was scant, with wide swaths of Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio reporting less than 25 percent of normal precipitation. Statewide precipitation totals ranged from 0.11 inches below normal in Minnesota to 2.08 inches below normal in Kentucky. Final rankings indicate that Illinois had its 4th driest February on record, tied with 1907. Iowa recorded its 10th-driest February (tied with 1964), and Indiana its 16th-driest, both since 1895. Early February was characterized by regionwide dryness. As the month progressed, more frequent weather disturbances tracked across the upper Midwest but largely missed the lower Midwest. Dozens of locations in Illinois and Iowa reported no measurable precipitation in February, making it the driest February on record or tying the record. Several long-running stations across the lower Midwest reported a top 5 driest month, including Rockford (IL, 2nd driest), Chicago (IL, 3rd driest), Cleveland (OH, 5th driest), and Detroit (MI, 5th driest). Conversely, across the upper Midwest, a top 5 wettest February was recorded in Minocqua (WI, 2nd wettest), Herman (MI, 2nd wettest), Cheboygan (MI, 3rd wettest), and Peshtigo (WI, 4th wettest). Total winter (December–February) precipitation was 3.63 inches, which was 2.34 inches below normal for the season (Figure 3). Final rankings indicate that the Midwest had its 7th-driest winter since 1895.

Snowfall

Snowfall was generally lacking across the Midwest in February, except for the far upper Midwest, central Iowa, and southern Ohio (Figure 6). Across the far upper Midwest, February snowfall totals ranged from 15 to 50 inches, which was about 100 to 200 percent of normal (Figure 7). Snowfall was especially noteworthy along the north shore of Lake Superior, where totals from February 17–19 alone ranged from 20 to 30 inches. According to the Minnesota State Climatology Office, “an observer in Hovland in Cook County measured some of the heaviest snow ever recorded in Minnesota, with a three-day total of 40.4 inches, making it the second-highest known storm total in Minnesota's recorded history, and the largest in 32 years.” Snowfall totals in February were less than 50 percent of normal across wide stretches of the upper Midwest. Monthly snowfall totals in southern and northwest Wisconsin were 8 to 12 inches below normal (Figure 8). Similar deficits were reported across western Michigan and portions of Minnesota. Across the lower Midwest, Missouri and Illinois had little to no snowfall. A few counties in central Iowa and southern Ohio had near-normal snowfall, while elsewhere across the region, totals were 5 to 50 percent of normal. Sioux City—which typically receives 8.7 inches of snow in February—had no snow for only the 3rd time since 1889, with the last occurrence in 1946. In Illinois, Rockford had its 3rd least snowy February since 1893, and Chicago had its 10th least snowy February since 1884.

Drought

Drought expanded and intensified across the Midwest in February. Drought was present in all nine Midwestern states, with widespread moderate (D1) to extreme (D3) drought across Missouri, Illinois, northern Indiana, and northwest Ohio (Figure 9). Drought emerged in northwest and southeast Iowa in February. Across the upper Midwest, conditions varied but were unchanged throughout the month, with some areas drought-free and others in moderate (D1) to severe (D2) drought.

Severe Weather – February 19, 2026

Severe thunderstorms moved across southern Illinois and southern Indiana along a warm frontal boundary on the afternoon and evening of February 19. The National Weather Service confirmed 8 tornadoes in Illinois and 4 in Indiana (Figure 10). The strongest storm occurred near Bloomington, Indiana, with winds estimated at 120 mph, resulting in structural damage to homes, businesses, and the airport. Additionally, weather spotters reported dozens of hail reports in Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky.

Temperature

The average January temperature for the Midwest was 20.0°F, which was 2.4°F below the 1991-2020 normal (Figure 1). Temperatures were near to slightly above normal in the west-central Midwest and 1 to 6°F below normal for the rest of the region (Figure 2). Statewide average temperatures ranged from 0.2°F below normal in Iowa to 4.7°F below normal in Ohio. January was notably warm to start, with average temperatures from January 1-14 ranging from 5 to 15°F above normal across the region (Figure 3). High temperatures in the upper 50s and 60s rolled across the region from west to east from January 7-10 ahead of a potent cold front that traversed the region. On January 9, Racine, Wisconsin, had its 2nd earliest 60°F day on record (dating back to 1897). On January 10, Waverly, Ohio, had its 6th earliest 70°F day on record (dating back to 1894). Another brief shot of warmth soared high temperatures in the western half of the region 20 to 30°F above normal on January 13-14 (Figure 4). Starting mid-month, the large-scale weather pattern shifted, ushering in repeated Arctic cold fronts that plunged the entire Midwest into a deep freeze. Nearly every long-running weather station across the nine-state region had a top 10 coldest close to the month (January 18-31) (Figure 5). Low temperatures in Detroit, Michigan, during the last two weeks of January were the coldest in their 153-year record. In Ohio, daytime high temperatures from January 18-31 were the coldest on record in Cleveland (dating back 148 years) and Akron (dating back 137 years). In northern Minnesota and northern Wisconsin, the coldest temperatures of the month occurred from January 23-26 when lows reached -30 to -40°F. During the last week of January, temperatures in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio reached -10 to -20°F on multiple days. In northeast Ohio, Warren tied for its 2nd coldest temperature on record (for any month dating back to 1893) when the mercury dropped to -25 °F on January 31. Cold air temperatures were amplified by gusty winds throughout late January, resulting in dangerous wind chills. Minnesota and Wisconsin had wind chill temperatures of -40 to -55°F while the lower Midwest saw wind chills from -20 to -35°F. For most areas, these frigid wind chills were the coldest the region has experienced since 2019.

Precipitation

January precipitation totaled 1.29 inches for the Midwest, which was 0.65 inches below normal, or 66 percent of normal (Figure 1). Precipitation was near to slightly above normal along an axis from southwest Iowa to northern Michigan (Figure 6). Across most of the lower Midwest, precipitation was 1 to 3 inches below normal, with the largest deficits along the Ohio River (Figure 7). Statewide precipitation totals ranged from 0.53 inches above normal in Michigan to 1.47 inches below normal in Indiana (Figure 1). Precipitation for Iowa was near normal for the month but largely driven by rainfall on a single day, January 9, when 0.5 to 2 inches drenched the state (Figure 8). In far southwest Wisconsin, Prairie du Chien had its wettest January day on record (dating back to 1893), with 2 inches of precipitation on January 9. For the month, many locations across the upper Midwest had January precipitation totals in the top 10 wettest on record, including: Herman (MI) – 1st, Sault Ste. Marie (MI) – 4th, Minocqua (WI) – 5th, and Decorah (IA) – 7th (Figure 9).

Drought

January closed with about 60 percent of the Midwest classified as abnormally dry or in drought, a slight improvement from the start of the month (Figure 10). The dominant drought-affected area across the lower Midwest included a wide swath of moderate (D1) to extreme (D3) drought from southern Missouri to northwest Ohio. Extreme (D3) drought persisted across portions of east-central Illinois, northern Indiana, and northwest Ohio. A small area of D3 emerged in southern Missouri in January. Across the upper Midwest, Wisconsin and Michigan had some relief during the month. The dominant drought areas in the north were located across northern Minnesota and northern Wisconsin.

Snowfall

January snowfall totals ranged from less than an inch to up to 20 inches in non-lake-affected areas across the Midwest (Figure 11). The lower Midwest had snow totals of 200-300 percent of normal, with locally higher amounts. In southern Illinois, Du Quoin picked up 19.5 inches for the month, making it the 4th snowiest January in 111 years. Du Quoin also recorded its snowiest day on record for any time of year, with 14.5 inches on January 25, 2026. In southern Indiana, Washington had its 5th snowiest January in 120 years with 13 inches. Conversely, the northwest quadrant of the region (Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and northern Illinois) had widespread areas with 10-50 percent of normal snowfall for the month (Figure 12). Des Moines, Iowa, tied for the 10th-least-snowy January since 1884, with just 1.4 inches for the month. Moline, Illinois, tied for the 10th-least-snowy January since 1882, with just 1.7 inches. Monthly snowfall totals in lake-affected areas downwind of Lakes Superior, Michigan, and Erie reached 30 to over 80 inches for January. These totals were generally near normal to above normal in lake-affected areas. In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Herman measured 93 inches for the month, which is 45.2 inches above normal, making it the 2nd snowiest January since records began in 1969.

Major Winter Storm -- January 24-26

A large and powerful winter storm moved across the lower Midwest from January 24-26, bringing deep snow and dangerous freezing rain, followed by frigid temperatures. A wide swath of 8 to 18 inches of snow fell along an axis from southwest Missouri to northeast Ohio (Figure 13). Kentucky, meanwhile, was blanketed with 0.25 to 1.0 inches of ice accumulation from widespread freezing rain. On the heels of the storm’s passage, dangerous Arctic air and frigid wind chills were felt regionwide, hampering storm recovery and snow removal and resulting in multiple days of school and business closures.

Temperature

The average December temperature for the Midwest was 25.7°F, which was 2.0°F below the 1991-2020 normal (Figure 1). Temperatures ranged from 1 to 5°F below normal in the central and upper Midwest to as much as 5°F above normal in the far southwest portion of the region (Figure 2). Statewide average temperatures ranged from 1.5°F above normal in Missouri to 3.8°F below normal in Wisconsin. Multiple Arctic air masses traversed the region during the first half of the month, resulting in average temperatures 8 to 16°F below normal from December 1-15 (Figure 3). Air temperatures on December 14 dropped below -5°F as far south as central Illinois and central Indiana, with temperatures below -20°F in northern Minnesota (Figure 4). Conditions moderated for the second half of the month, with average temperatures ranging from 4 to 14°F above normal for most of the Midwest from December 16-31 (Figure 5). On December 28, high temperatures reached 60 to 80°F across the lower Midwest (Figure 6), breaking numerous daily high temperature records in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio (Figure 7). The extreme cold was largely offset by the extreme warmth, resulting in no monthly temperature records across the region.

Precipitation

December precipitation totaled 1.45 inches for the Midwest, which was 0.74 inches below normal, or 66 percent of normal (Figure 1). Precipitation was variable across the region (Figure 8). Conditions were near to above normal for most of the upper Midwest, southeast Iowa, and parts of northern Illinois (Figure 9). Conversely, precipitation was below normal across the lower Midwest and most of Iowa. Statewide precipitation totals ranged from 0.53 inches above normal in Michigan to 2.19 inches below normal in Kentucky (Figure 1). Precipitation for the state of Missouri was just 21 percent of normal, resulting in the 3rd driest December on record. With just 0.08 inches for the month, Lamar, in southwest Missouri, had its driest December in 128 years. Conversely, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, received 5.19 inches, making it their 3rd wettest December in 138 years.

Drought

Drought conditions remained mostly unchanged throughout December across the region. The month closed with about 68 percent of the region classified as abnormally dry or in drought (Figure 10). Drought and dryness affected portions of all nine states, with dryness expanding in Kentucky and Missouri in December. Extreme (D3) drought lingered in portions of east-central Illinois, northern Indiana, and northwest Ohio.

Snowfall

December snowfall totals ranged from 5 to 20 inches across the central and upper Midwest, with totals reaching 30 to 80 inches in lake-affected areas downwind of Lakes Superior and Michigan (Figure 11). While these amounts were near to slightly above normal for the upper Midwest and lake-affected regions, the totals were unusually high for parts of the central and lower Midwest (Figure 12). A wide swath from central Iowa southeastward to Ohio and Kentucky had snowfall totals of 8-15 inches, which was 200-500 percent of normal.

December Thaw and High Winds – December 18-19

A fast-moving low-pressure system (“Alberta Clipper”) moved across the upper Midwest December 18-19, bringing blizzard-like conditions to Minnesota and a surge of warmer-than-normal temperatures ahead of a strong cold front that traversed the region. Air temperatures reached the upper 50s in the lower Midwest and upper 40s in Michigan and the southern half of Wisconsin (Figure 13). This “December Thaw” melted away the early-December snowpack that had blanketed the lower Midwest and thinned snow depths further north by half. As the cold front moved through, winds gusted up to 50-60 mph from Minnesota to Ohio.

December 28-29 Severe Weather Outbreak and Blizzard

A strong low-pressure system moved across the Midwest and Great Lakes on December 28-29, resulting in a variety of weather conditions across the region. In the north, a warm and foggy air mass gave way to wet, cold, and windy conditions. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued Blizzard Warnings for more than 50 counties across Minnesota and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and most of Wisconsin had Winter Storm Warnings in effect. State Patrol responded to nearly one thousand accidents on southern Minnesota roadways as 40-55 mph winds brought whiteout conditions due to blowing snow. Across the lower Midwest, temperatures rose to record and near-record highs ahead of a strong cold front. The warm, humid air supported the development of thunderstorms across the lower Midwest (Figure 14). At least 13 tornadoes were confirmed in Illinois and Indiana, including an EF2 near Decatur, Illinois, that had winds up to 120 mph. Six of those tornadoes occurred in the Chicago NWS forecast area, becoming that area’s latest tornadoes in the calendar year on record. Following the severe weather, a strong cold front brought 40-60 mph straight-line winds across the lower Midwest, with localized gusts over 60 mph.

Temperature

The average November temperature for the Midwest was 40.5°F, which was 2°F above the 1991-2020 normal (Figure 1). Temperatures were 1 to 5°F above normal in the western half of the region and near to slightly below normal in the eastern half (Figure 2). From week to week, temperatures oscillated widely above and below average throughout November. A mild start to the month gave way to widespread freezing temperatures that moved across the Midwest from November 9th to 11th (Figure 3). The lower Midwest experienced its first hard freeze of the fall, marking the end of the growing season. Bitter wind chills of 10 to 20°F reached as far south as Missouri and Kentucky. The cooldown was short-lived as temperatures rebounded by mid-month. In Sioux City, Iowa, the maximum temperature rose to 76°F on November 14, the latest date a temperature over 75°F has occurred in the calendar year since records began in 1889. Also on November 14, the Minneapolis area reached 72°F, which was their warmest temperature recorded so late in the year. Anomalous warmth lingered, especially in the western half of the Midwest (Figure 4), until a blast of Arctic air cooled the region on and after Thanksgiving Day. From November 27th to 30th, temperatures were about 6 to 12°F below normal for most of the Midwest (Figure 5). The average fall (September-November) temperature for the Midwest was 3°F above normal, which was the 6th warmest on record dating back to 1895 (Figure 6).

Precipitation

November precipitation totaled 1.77 inches for the Midwest, which was 0.77 inches below normal, or 70 percent of normal (Figure 1). Precipitation across most of the region was 25 to 75 percent of normal (Figure 7). A few isolated areas had precipitation that was 125 to 175 percent of normal, including Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, northwest Iowa, portions of northern Missouri, and far southern Ohio. Final statewide precipitation totals showed all nine states were below normal, with totals ranging from 0.43 inches below normal in Iowa to 1.12 inches below normal in Illinois (Figure 1). While dryness dominated the region, statewide deficits did not approach any records. In northern Minnesota, Park Rapids had its 5th driest November in 141 years with just 0.14 inches of precipitation. The NWS office in Marquette, Michigan, had its 6th wettest November on record (dating back to 1961), with 5.7 inches of precipitation. Fall (September-November) precipitation for the Midwest totaled 6.65 inches, which was 2.41 inches below normal, or 73 percent of normal (Figure 6).

Drought

Drought conditions remained largely stable throughout November across the region, with the month beginning (Figure 8) and ending (Figure 9) with approximately 65 percent of the Midwest classified as abnormally dry or in drought. Drought and dryness affected portions of all states except Kentucky. Drought expanded and intensified across the far upper Midwest, while conditions showed improvements in Missouri. Extreme (D3) drought lingered in portions of east-central Illinois, northern Indiana, and northwest Ohio.

Snowfall

November snowfall totals ranged from 10 to 50 inches in lake-affected regions downwind of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan (Figure 10). The NWS office in Marquette, Michigan, had its 3rd snowiest November on record (dating back to 1961), with 48.8 inches of snow. Across the upper and central Midwest, monthly snowfall totals ranged from 2 to 30 inches, with an inch or less across the far lower Midwest. For the central and lower Midwest, November brought record to near-record monthly totals, with a vast portion of the region accumulating 200-500 percent of normal snowfall for the month (Figure 11). Goshen, Indiana, had its snowiest November in 112 years with 27 inches for the month, which was 23.6 inches above normal. This beat the previous record set in 1977 by 13 inches. Racine, Wisconsin, had its 2nd snowiest November in 130 years with 15.3 inches. Spencer, Iowa, had its 3rd snowiest November in 131 years with 15.8 inches. The first measurable snowfall of the season for many locations across Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio occurred on November 10-11, when cold air from the north moved over the Great Lakes, generating lake-effect snow that reached as far as the lower Midwest (Figure 12). Some parts of northern Indiana, southwestern Michigan, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula observed over a foot of snow. On November 10, Chicago O’Hare International Airport observed 1.7 inches of snow, nearly a month earlier than the typical first inch of snow for that location. Thundersnow was also reported along Lake Michigan on the early morning of November 10. Snowfall was scant throughout the middle of the month until a more active pattern resumed late in the month. From November 25-27, a potent winter storm traversed Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (Figure 13). This storm brought 3 to 30 inches of snowfall across the far upper Midwest, along with extreme winds and pre-Thanksgiving travel stress. Another notable snow-producing weather system moved across the region immediately following the Thanksgiving holiday, from November 28th to 30th (detailed below), driving up monthly snowfall totals region-wide.

November 28-30 Snowstorm

An early-season winter storm blanketed the central Midwest with unusually deep snow for November. Snowfall totals ranging from 6 to 16 inches were reported across Iowa, southern Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and southern Michigan (Figure 14). On November 29, many long-running reporting locations had their largest single-day November snowfall on record, including Dubuque, IA (11 inches); Springfield, IL (8.9 inches); Chicago, IL (8.4 inches); and Madison, WI (9.3 inches). Waterloo, Iowa, and Springfield, Illinois, experienced their largest November storm-total snowfall on record, with many other Midwest cities also reporting a top 5 November storm-total snowfall. The post-Thanksgiving storm brought travel stress to the region, with thousands of flights delayed and cancelled, and major interstate highways closed due to hazardous driving conditions and crashes.

Temperature

The average October temperature for the Midwest was 55.8°F, which was 4.4°F above the 1991-2020 normal. Temperatures ranged from 6 to 7°F above normal in the far western portion of the region to near normal in the far eastern portion (Figure 1). Statewide average temperatures ranged from 5.9°F above normal in Minnesota and Iowa to 1.5°F above normal in Ohio (Figure 8). Final rankings indicate that Minnesota had its 8th warmest October and both Illinois and Missouri had their 9th warmest October on record (dating back to 1895). October started very warm across the region, with daytime high temperatures reaching the upper 80s and low 90s. From October 1 to 4, maximum temperatures were 15 to 25°F above normal across the upper Midwest and 8 to 15°F above normal across the lower Midwest (Figure 2). Temperatures fluctuated from above normal to near normal to below normal throughout the month in the eastern half of the region, while temperatures were more consistently above normal in the western half of the region. Most locations across the Midwest experienced the end of the growing season in October, as temperatures dropped to 32°F or lower for the first time since spring (Figure 3). Many locations across the far upper Midwest experienced their first freeze from October 1 to 10, which is slightly later than usual. Much of the central Midwest experienced its first freeze from October 21 to 31, which is slightly later than usual. The lower Midwest had a mix of areas that had and had not yet reached their first freeze by the end of the month, which is normal for this area (Figure 4). Several long-running weather stations west of the Mississippi River had a top 10 warmest minimum temperature for October, including Columbia (Missouri), Des Moines (Iowa), and Minneapolis (Minnesota) (Figure 5). There were no record or near-record monthly average or monthly high temperatures at long-running weather stations across the region for October.

Precipitation

October precipitation totaled 2.49 inches for the Midwest, which was 0.61 inches below normal, or 80 percent of normal. Precipitation across the region was variable, with the highest totals above normal throughout the Ohio River basin and the lowest totals below normal along the Minnesota-Wisconsin border (Figure 6). Statewide precipitation totals ranged from 1.17 inches above normal in Kentucky to 1.74 inches below normal in Wisconsin. Lexington, Kentucky, had its wettest October on record (dating back 141 years) with 8.01 inches. A new 1-day maximum precipitation record for October was also set in Lexington when 4.74 inches was reported on October 7. Louisville, Kentucky, had its 5th wettest October (dating back 154 years), with 7.13 inches of precipitation. In central Ohio, London had its wettest October on record (dating back 93 years) with 6.96 inches of precipitation. Conversely, Duluth, Minnesota, tied for the 8th driest October in 152 years of record-keeping, with just 0.56 inches falling for the month. Detroit, Michigan, tied for the 9th driest October (dating back 152 years) with just 0.73 inches of precipitation. Also of note, some cities in the lower Midwest, despite experiencing a lengthy dry spell in October, still ended up with near-normal precipitation. For instance, St. Louis had 17 consecutive days without measurable precipitation, but they ended the month with 3.2 inches, 0.05 inches above normal. In central Illinois, the town of Pana ended the month 0.81 inches below normal, despite receiving measurable precipitation on only two days in October.

Drought

October concluded with approximately 69 percent of the Midwest classified as abnormally dry or in drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor map (Figure 7). The most intense and widespread drought conditions spanned a swath from southwest Missouri to northwest Ohio. Conversely, most of Kentucky, southern Indiana, and southern Ohio were unaffected by drought or dryness.

Temperature

The average September temperature for the Midwest was 66.2°F, which was 2.6°F above the 1991-2020 normal. The entire region had anomalous warmth, ranging from about 1°F above normal in the southeast to 5°F above normal in the northwest (Figure 1). Statewide average temperatures ranged from 1.3°F above normal in Kentucky to 3.8°F above normal in Minnesota (Figure 2). Final rankings indicate that Minnesota had its 7th warmest September on record, tied with 1998. The Midwest was notably cool to start the month. Des Moines, Iowa, and Minnesota’s Twin Cities had the 5th coldest start to September with records dating back to the 1870s. Temperatures began to warm from west to east across the region during the second week of the month, with warmth reaching into the 90s in Iowa and Missouri. Carrollton, Missouri, experienced seven consecutive days of maximum temperatures above 90°F from September 12 to 18, marking the third-longest September stretch since 1893. By mid-month, above-normal warmth blanketed the entire region, with locations across the northwest experiencing average temperatures 10 to 12°F above normal from September 15 to 21 (Figure 3). The unseasonal warmth lingered region-wide through late September.

Precipitation

September precipitation totaled 2.32 inches in the Midwest, 1.1 inches below normal, or 68 percent of normal. The central Midwest had widespread precipitation deficits of 10-50 percent of normal (Figure 4). Precipitation across the far southern Midwest was near to slightly above normal, with an isolated area along the Kentucky-Ohio border having 150-175 percent of normal precipitation for September. Statewide precipitation totals ranged from 0.39 inches above normal in Kentucky to 1.97 inches below normal in Illinois. Final rankings indicate that Illinois had its 11th driest September on record. Notably, a large swath of the region straddling the Mississippi River from Dubuque, Iowa, to south of St. Louis, Missouri, had about two consecutive weeks with no measurable precipitation in early to mid-September. The far eastern region, from southern Michigan to western Kentucky, had a similar 2-3-week dry stretch. In central Illinois, Peoria had its 3rd driest September in 140 years, with just 0.09 inches for the month, 3.39 inches below normal. Bloomington, Illinois, also had its 3rd driest September with 0.38 inches. Moline, Illinois, with 152 years of data, had its 6th-driest September on record, with just 0.71 inches measured. Across the region, other long-running observation sites had a top 5 driest September, including Cleveland (Ohio), Jackson (southern Michigan), Port Huron (eastern Michigan), and Alpena (northern Michigan) (Figure 5).

Drought

Drought conditions expanded and intensified across the Midwest during September. The month closed with about 66 percent of the region classified as abnormally dry or in drought according to the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) (Figure 6). For comparison, the month began with 47 percent of the Midwest experiencing drought or abnormally dry conditions (Figure 7). Dryness and drought were widespread across the lower Midwest and Michigan, including about 10 percent of the area in severe drought (D2). A multi-county area in northwest Ohio and northeast Indiana closed the month in extreme drought (D3). Several pockets across the lower Midwest and Michigan had two classes of degradation on the USDM over just four weeks during September. As conditions rapidly deteriorated, pasture and range conditions declined, water levels in stock ponds fell, and many locations imposed burn bans due to heightened fire risk.

Temperature

The average August temperature for the Midwest was 70.4°F, which was 0.5°F below the 1991-2020 normal (Figure 1). Average temperatures across most of the region were near normal for August, with scattered patches of slightly below-normal temperatures across the lower Midwest (Figure 2). Statewide average temperatures ranged from 0.3°F above normal in Minnesota to 1.2°F below normal in Ohio. August temperatures fluctuated widely from week to week. Across the region, the month started and closed with notably cool temperatures for this time of year, with mid-month temperatures surging to 3 to 6°F above normal from August 8-21. Across the lower Midwest, temperatures peaked in the upper 90s to low 100s in mid-August before dipping into the mid-40s late in the month.

In Springfield, Missouri, daily high temperatures peaked at or above 95°F for six consecutive days from August 14-19. Conversely, a handful of isolated locations across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula briefly had their first freezing temperatures since spring, which is several weeks earlier than usual. Across the region, overnight low temperatures for the month showed a northwest to southeast divide (Figure 3). Minimum monthly temperatures were up to 3 degrees above normal across Minnesota and down to 3 degrees below normal across the Ohio River Valley. In northeast Minnesota, Tower had its 5th warmest monthly low temperatures for August in 70 years of recordkeeping (Figure 4). Conversely, Steubenville in eastern Ohio had its 7th coldest monthly low temperatures for August dating back 75 years (Figure 5). The average summer (June-August) temperature for the Midwest was 1.1°F above normal (Figure 6), with most locations east of the Mississippi River up to 1 to 2°F above normal (Figure 7). This summer had the 7th warmest average minimum temperature on record, tying 2018 and 2005 (61.5°F).

Precipitation

August precipitation totaled 2.27 inches for the Midwest, which was 1.4 inches below normal, or 62 percent of normal (Figure 1). Most of the Midwest had notable precipitation deficits, except for northern Michigan and a narrow swath along an axis from west-central Minnesota to southeast Wisconsin, where precipitation was 100-200 percent of normal (Figure 8). Most of the lower Midwest had less than 50 percent of normal for August, with areas in southern Illinois and southern Ohio seeing less than 10 percent of normal. Statewide precipitation totals ranged from 0.19 inches below normal in Wisconsin to 2.74 inches below normal in Missouri. Final rankings indicate Kentucky and Ohio had their driest August on record, and Missouri and Illinois had their 3rd and 6th driest August on record, respectively. Numerous individual locations across the lower Midwest had a top-five driest August (Figure 9) as precipitation departures for the month reached 2 to 4 inches below normal (Figure 10). In contrast, numerous long-running weather stations in southern Minnesota, northeast Iowa, and southern Wisconsin had a top 10 wettest August (Figure 11). Decorah, in northeast Iowa, measured 13.61 inches of August precipitation, which is the 2nd wettest in 124 years. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, collected 8.94 inches in August, which was over 5 inches above normal and the 2nd wettest in 154 years. Remarkably, most of Milwaukee’s monthly rain fell in a single event from August 9-11, and more about that is noted below. Summer (June-August) precipitation for the Midwest was about 0.6 inches above normal (Figure 6), with the northwest portion of the region 100-175 percent of normal and the southeast mixed with areas generally within 25 percent above or below normal (Figure 12).

Drought

After several months of improvement, abnormally dry and drought conditions were reintroduced across the lower Midwest throughout August. Conditions largely remained unchanged across the upper Midwest, with lingering pockets of moderate (D1) to severe (D2) drought in central Michigan and most areas across Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa free of dryness or drought. Overall, the Midwest concluded August with about 25 percent of the region dry and just over 4 percent in moderate (D1) drought (Figure 13).

August 9-11, 2025: Historic rainfall across southeast Wisconsin

Persistent heavy rainfall affected a multi-county area in and around Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from August 9-11 (Figure 14). A wide swath of 6 to 12 inches of rainfall caused numerous streams and rivers to overflow their banks, and record crests occurred on the Menomonee River, Milwaukee River, and Root River. Flash flooding stranded and flooded vehicles at the Wisconsin State Fair, along streets, and in parking garages throughout Milwaukee and Waukesha counties. Major interstate highways were closed due to flooding, and emergency responders conducted hundreds of rescues throughout the area. Several weather stations reported 24-hour rainfall totals that exceeded the current statewide record of 11.72 inches, and further investigation for a new record rainfall event is ongoing.

The average July temperature for the Midwest was 74.9°F, which was 2.2°F above the 1991-2020 normal (Figure 1). Temperatures across the region went from near normal in the northwest, warming to up to 3°F above normal in the southeast (Figure 2). Statewide temperatures ranged from 0.8°F above normal in Minnesota to 3.3°F above normal in Indiana and Kentucky (Figure 1). Across the upper Midwest, temperatures were near to above normal to start and end the month, with a mid-month cool down that brought a wide swath of temperatures 2-4°F below normal. Conversely, across the lower Midwest, temperatures were persistently warm for the entire month, with many locations seeing a top 10 warmest July (Figure 3). Overnight low temperatures were notably warm (4-6°F above normal) across the southeastern half of the region (Figure 4), with many long-running weather stations reporting their warmest July low temperatures on record (Figure 5). Louisville had 41 consecutive days (June 21 to July 31) where the low temperature was at or above 70°F, which exceeded the previous record (for any month) set in 1935 by 6 days. Bowling Green, Kentucky, had 29 consecutive days (July 3 to July 31) with low temperatures at or above 70°F, which was the 2nd longest streak on record (for any month) dating back to 1893. Also notable was the persistent humidity across the central and southern Midwest throughout the month. Daily average dew points across the south-central Midwest were 71-75°F for most of July. Moline, Illinois, had a record-setting 49 consecutive days (June 12 to July 30) with dew point temperatures at or above 65°F. Champaign, Illinois, had a record-setting 29 consecutive days (July 3 to July 31) with dew point temperatures at or above 70°F. Starting mid-month, high humidity combined with high temperatures brought a lengthy stretch of dangerously high heat index values across the south-central Midwest. Murray (in western Kentucky) and Sikeston (in southeast Missouri) both had 10 consecutive days with heat index values at or over 110°F. The heatwave reached peak intensity on July 28 with widespread heat index values of 110-120°F across Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky before a cold front brought relief to the area on July 31.

Precipitation

July precipitation totaled 5.27 inches for the Midwest, which was 1.17 inches above normal, or 129 percent of normal (Figure 1). Final rankings indicate July 2025 was the 8th wettest July on record. Precipitation was near or above normal across the entire region, with a wide swath of 200-300 percent of normal precipitation centered over Iowa (Figure 6). Statewide precipitation totals ranged from 0.38 inches below normal in Kentucky to 4.58 inches above normal in Iowa (Figure 1). Final rankings indicate Iowa had its 2nd wettest July on record. Numerous locations in central and eastern Iowa and northwest Missouri had 10-12 inches of rainfall in July, including Des Moines (Iowa), New Hampton (Iowa), Manchester (Iowa), Marshall (Missouri), Pleasant Hill (Missouri), and Carrollton (Missouri). While most of the region had ample wetness, isolated areas throughout the region had notably dry conditions. July was 5th driest in north-central Wisconsin, 10th driest in far southwest Missouri, and 8th driest in far eastern Ohio (Figure 7).

Drought

Overall, about 2.5 percent of the Midwest was in drought and 6.5 percent was classified as abnormally dry according to the U.S. Drought Monitor in late July (Figure 8). Affected areas were isolated around the southern Lake Michigan area, central Michigan, and extreme northwest Minnesota.

Temperature

The average June temperature for the Midwest was 70.6°F, which was 1.6 °F above the 1991-2020 normal (Figure 1). Temperatures were near normal in the northwest portion of the region while elsewhere had temperatures 1 to 4°F above normal (Figure 2). Statewide average temperatures ranged from 0.3°F above normal in Minnesota to 2.6°F above normal in Ohio. The first half of June saw near- to slightly below-average temperatures across the region (Figure 3). Conditions flipped mid-month, with warm weather locking into place across the region for the second half of June (Figure 4). A notable humid heat wave blanketed the central and lower Midwest from June 21-28 (details below). Numerous long-running weather stations in northern Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Kentucky recorded a top 10 warmest June (Figure 5). In southern Indiana, Shoals recorded the 2nd warmest June in 109 years. Indianapolis (IN), Rockford (IL), Columbus (OH), Lansing (MI), and many other locations east of the Mississippi River set a new June record for consecutive days with low temperatures at/above 70°F (Figure 6).

Precipitation

June precipitation totaled 5.13 inches for the Midwest, which was 0.59 inches above normal, or 113 percent of normal (Figure 1). Across the region, precipitation was generally at or above normal with notable exceptions in portions of Illinois, central Michigan, and northern Minnesota where precipitation was 50-75 percent of normal (Figure 7). Rainfall was 175-225 percent of normal in south-central Missouri, central Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, and northern Michigan. Statewide precipitation totals ranged from 0.58 inches below normal in Illinois to 1.55 inches above normal in Missouri (Figure 1). In central Missouri, Rolla had its 2nd wettest June in 111 years with 12.98 inches of rain, which is 8.61 inches above normal. Canby, in southwest Minnesota, measured a record-setting 12.27 inches of rainfall for June along with their wettest June day since 1887 when 3.9 inches fell on June 29. In central Ohio, Circleville had its wettest June in 103 years with 10.14 inches of rain.

Drought

Overall, just 6 percent of the Midwest was in drought and 23 percent was classified as abnormally dry according to the U.S. Drought Monitor in late June (Figure 8). The lower Midwest remained free of abnormal dryness or drought all month. Conditions improved slightly during June in the central Midwest and around the southern Lake Michigan area. Scattered pockets of abnormal dryness or drought lingered across the upper Midwest.

Severe Weather Outbreak – June 18

Several hundred straight-line wind reports reaching 70-80+ mph and at least 21 tornadoes touched down across Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio on June 18 (Figure 9). A 79-mph wind gust in Muncie, Indiana uprooted a tree, which fell onto a mobile home. An 81-mph wind gust was reported at Lorain County Airport in Ohio. An EF-2 tornado with estimated peak winds of 125 mph cut a 7-mile path near Literberry, Illinois and caused significant damage to a farmstead and flattened corn. This potent weather system also dropped 2 to 3 inches of rainfall in the Chicago area and up to 4 inches of rainfall across a wide swath of southeast Michigan.

Humid Heat Wave – June 21-28

A hot, humid air mass brought very high temperatures and heat index values to the Midwest in late June. The lower Midwest was affected for over a week, while the heat lasted just a few days across the upper Midwest. Most locations across the lower Midwest had 6 to 9 consecutive days with maximum air temperatures at or over 90°F. The high air temperatures paired with dew point values over 70°F to create oppressive heat index values. The Minneapolis Crystal Airport measured a 108°F heat index on June 21 and a 107°F heat index on June 22 before temperatures moderated. Further south, the heat index in Terre Haute, Indiana, reached or exceeded 100°F daily from June 21-28, with a maximum heat index of 108°F on June 25. Overnight low temperatures during the heat wave were notably high too, putting people, pets, and plants at an elevated risk of heat stress. The daily low temperature in St. Louis, Missouri, remained at or above 79°F from June 21-26, which tied the record for most consecutive days at/above that threshold. Most locations across the lower Midwest maintained overnight temperatures at or above 72°F for the duration of the heat wave.

Temperature

The average May temperature for the Midwest was 59.1°F, which was 0.6°F below the 1991-2020 normal (Figure 1). Temperature anomalies were 1 to 6°F above normal across Minnesota, with temperatures closer to normal or slightly below normal across the region to the south and east (Figure 2). Statewide average temperatures ranged from 2.2°F above normal for Minnesota to 2.0°F below normal for Ohio. Temperature departures oscillated from above normal to near normal to below normal for the first few weeks of May before widespread below-normal temperatures blanketed the region from May 22-31. Notably, record to near-record warmth stretched across the northwest portion of the region from May 11-15 as temperatures soared more than 25°F above normal (Figure 3). Temperatures across northern Minnesota reached the mid- to upper-90s on May 11, followed by several more days with temperatures over 90°F. International Falls, Minnesota, reached 96°F on May 11, setting an all-time high temperature record for the month and becoming the highest temperature ever measured that early in the calendar year. Southern Wisconsin reached its first 90°F temperature of the year on May 15, about a month ahead of normal. Meanwhile, locations across the lower Midwest, from southern Missouri eastward along and around the Ohio River, were void of reaching 90°F during the month of May. The Midwest's average spring (March-May) temperature was 2.0°F above normal (Figure 4). Final rankings indicate that spring 2025 was tied for the 13th warmest on record for the Midwest with 2016.

Precipitation

May precipitation totaled 3.64 inches for the Midwest, which was 0.74 inches below normal, or 83 percent of normal (Figure 1). Precipitation was near to above normal across the far lower Midwest, eastern Midwest, and central Minnesota (Figure 5). Elsewhere across the central and western Midwest, precipitation was 25 to 75 percent of normal. Statewide precipitation totals ranged from 1.66 inches above normal in Kentucky to 2.25 inches below normal in Iowa (Figure 1). Several long-running stations in central and southeast Ohio had a top ten wettest May (Figure 6). Circleville, Ohio, had its 6th wettest May in 120 years, with 7.98 inches of rainfall. In western Kentucky, Mammoth Cave ended the month with 9.07 inches, becoming the 8th wettest in 85 years of recordkeeping. In southwest Missouri, the town of Nevada logged its 5th wettest May in 114 years with 11.23 inches. From northern Missouri northward to the Canadian border and northeastward into the western Great Lakes, much of the region had a 12-17 day stretch of consecutively dry weather in early May. Several long-running stations in Iowa achieved a top ten driest May. In southeast Iowa, Ottumwa measured 0.83 inches for May, the 2nd driest in 77 years of observations, and over 4 inches below normal for the month. Fayette, in northeast Iowa, had their 5th driest May in 130 years with just 1.39 inches. Final spring (March-May) precipitation for the Midwest totaled 11.34 inches, which was 0.72 inches above normal (Figure 4). Final rankings indicate that spring 2025 was the 27th wettest on record for the Midwest.

Drought

During May, the lower Midwest remained free of abnormal dryness or drought (Figure 7). Scattered areas of abnormal dryness or drought lingered across the upper Midwest with little change from the start to the end of May. The one area of notable drought expansion during May was northern Illinois and northwest Indiana, which were blanketed with moderate (D1) drought by the end of the month.

Wildfires

A prolonged stretch of warm, dry, and windy weather in early to mid-May created elevated wildfire risk across Minnesota and northern Wisconsin, with the most notable fire risk from May 11-14. In northeast Minnesota, three large fires ignited on May 12-13 and burned for weeks before full containment was achieved. Combined, these fires burned over 30,000 acres of land, destroying structures and forcing local evacuations.

May 15 Severe Weather Across the Upper Midwest

A fast-moving, potent weather system brought tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail to the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes on May 15 (Figure 8). At least 31 tornadoes were confirmed across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Hail up to 3 inches in diameter fell along the southern Lake Michigan shore from Milwaukee throughout the Chicago area. Damaging winds gusting 50-80 mph were reported across a wide swath of the region, and a multi-county area in northwest Wisconsin had significant straight-line wind damage from winds that exceeded 100 mph.

May 16 Severe Weather Across the Lower Midwest and Chicago Area Dust Storm

A severe thunderstorm and deadly tornado outbreak initiated in eastern Missouri on May 16 and moved eastward across the lower Midwest, affecting Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio (Figure 9). At least 16 tornadoes were confirmed across the multi-state area by the National Weather Service, including an EF-4 in southern Illinois with peak winds estimated at 190 mph and a long-track EF-4 in eastern Kentucky that caused 19 fatalities. An EF-3 tornado traversed a populated area of St. Louis, Missouri, killing four people and injuring dozens more while leaving an estimated $1 billion in storm damage to the city. Two other tornadoes in this outbreak caused a combined three additional deaths, bringing the human toll to at least 26 fatalities across the region. Additionally, very large hail (tennis ball to softball size) was reported in western Kentucky and central Indiana, and a wide stretch of 60-90 mph straight-line winds ripped across central and eastern Kentucky.

As storms tracked across the lower Midwest, strong winds moved across dry farmland in northeast Illinois, kicking up a large dust storm that moved northeast into the Chicagoland area, northwest Indiana, and extreme southwest Michigan. The dust was driven by 60 mph winds, which resulted in very low visibility and crop damage. According to the National Weather Service, this area has not experienced a dust storm of this magnitude since the mid-1930s.

Temperature

The average April temperature for the Midwest was 49.7°F, which was 1.0°F above the 1991-2020 normal (Figure 1). Across the region, average April temperatures were generally close to normal across the upper Midwest and in the east, whereas temperatures were above normal in the far lower Midwest and the west (Figure 2). Statewide average temperatures ranged from 2.1°F above normal in Kentucky to 0.2°F below normal in Wisconsin (Figure 1). The first half of the month was dominated by near- to below-normal temperatures regionwide (Figure 3), which gave way to above-normal temperatures regionwide during the second half of April (Figure 4). There were no notable station-level or state-level monthly records for April.

Precipitation

April precipitation totaled 4.71 inches for the Midwest, which was 1.04 inches above normal, or 128 percent of normal (Figure 1). Final rankings indicate that the Midwest had its 8th wettest April on record (dating back to 1895). Precipitation was abundant across the lower Midwest, with monthly totals 3 to 12 inches above normal (Figure 5). Across the upper Midwest, total April precipitation ranged from within 2 inches above or below normal. Statewide precipitation totals ranged from 0.34 inches below normal in Iowa to 3.81 inches above normal in Kentucky (Figure 1). Final rankings indicate that Kentucky had its 2nd wettest April on record (the wettest April occurred in 2011), and Missouri had its 4th wettest. Indiana had its 10th wettest April. Two specific events contributed greatly to the extraordinary wetness across the lower Midwest. For Kentucky, the bulk of the monthly rain came from April 2-6, when about 3 months of rain fell over just a 5-day period (details below) (Figure 6). Southern Illinois and southern Indiana measured 6 to 8 inches of precipitation during that time. Then, from April 18-21, Missouri picked up 3 to 6 inches of widespread rain (Figure 7). Most weather stations across the lower Midwest recorded a top five wettest April (Figure 8). St. Louis and Springfield, Missouri, had their wettest April in 151 and 138 years, respectively. Bowling Green, Kentucky, had its wettest April in 126 years after picking up 11.58 inches for the month. With 117 years of data, Rushville, Indiana, measured a record-setting 12.26 inches in April. Cincinnati, Ohio, reported five consecutive days with over a half inch of rainfall each day, setting a new record for April.

Drought

There were notable improvements in drought and abnormal dryness across the month. April started with about 62 percent of the region dry or in drought (Figure 9) and ended with about 31 percent affected (Figure 10). Kentucky, Missouri, Indiana, and Ohio were completely drought-free. The remaining five Midwestern states had just isolated pockets of drought.

Severe Weather Outbreak April 2-3

An intense low pressure system traversed the Midwest on April 2-3, bringing widespread severe weather across the lower Midwest, 2 to 3 inches of drenching rain across the eastern Midwest, and 8 to 15 inches of snowfall across Minnesota. The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed 75 tornadoes in the Midwest alone that resulted in at least one fatality, about a dozen injuries, over 250,000 customers without power, and damage to structures and trees. Twenty-three of the confirmed tornadoes touched down in the NWS Paducah area, setting a new single-day tornado record for that area (Figure 11).

Excessive Kentucky Rainfall April 2-6

In the wake of the April 2-3 severe weather outbreak (noted above), multiple waves of thunderstorms and heavy rain continued to affect the lower Midwest, with Kentucky taking the brunt of the rainfall and flooding (Figure 6). The Kentucky Mesonet recorded 5-day precipitation totals of 10 to 16 inches for a broad swath covering the state's western half. Flash flooding, along with moderate to major river flooding, inundated central and western Kentucky. Many locations had their worst flooding in over 60 years. Stranded residents were rescued from homes, businesses, and vehicles. Countless roads became impassable from flooding and landslides, and many roadways were closed for weeks as the flooding persisted into mid-month. At least seven flood-related fatalities have been reported across the state.

Temperature

The average March temperature for the Midwest was 42.4°F, which was 5.5°F above the 1991-2020 normal (Figure 1). Temperatures were above normal across the entire Midwest, with the warmest anomalies in the central and western portions of the region (Figure 2). Statewide average temperatures ranged from 4.3°F above normal in Kentucky to 6.4°F above normal in Missouri (Figure 1). While the above-normal warmth persisted for most of March, the most extreme temperatures were noted during the second week of the month when high temperatures from March 8-14 averaged 15 to 25°F above normal (Figure 3). On March 14, temperatures soared over 30°F above normal in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. St. Louis (MO), Peoria (IL), and Waterloo (IA), which have between 129 and 148 years of observations, all had their 5th warmest March on record. Indianapolis, Indiana, had 9 days with high temperatures over 70°F in March, which is the second most for the month in 153 years of data. Rochester, Minnesota, reached 80°F on March 28, making it only the 4th time since records began in 1886 to reach 80°F in the month of March. With five days over 80°F, St. Louis, Missouri, had their 4th greatest number of March days over 80°F since records began in 1874.

Precipitation

March precipitation totaled 2.90 inches for the Midwest, which was 0.33 inches above normal, or 113 percent of normal (Figure 1). The upper Midwest had precipitation totals 2 to 5 inches above normal (Figure 4). The lower Midwest was generally within an inch of normal, except for the southern half of Missouri, where precipitation was 1 to 3 inches below normal. Statewide precipitation totals ranged from 1.07 inches below normal in Missouri to 1.96 inches above normal in Michigan. Final rankings indicate that Michigan and Wisconsin had their 2nd and 5th wettest March, respectively, since records began in 1895. A very active weather pattern brought multiple rounds of storm systems across the region throughout the month, which is fairly typical for March. Some of the more notable storm systems are detailed later in this report. In Michigan, long-running weather stations at Marquette, Sault Ste. Marie, and Houghton had their wettest March on record. Record monthly precipitation totals were also reported across southern Minnesota and central Wisconsin. Madison, Wisconsin, had a record number of days with precipitation over 0.5 inches, with records dating back 155 years.

Snowfall

Despite warmer-than-normal temperatures, northwest Iowa, northern Wisconsin, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula finished the month with snowfall totals that were 175-300 percent of normal (Figure 5). Marquette, Michigan, had its 5th snowiest March with 53.5 inches. Minnesota, however, missed out on the snowfall, with most of the state seeing less than 50 percent of normal. Similarly, southern Michigan had less than 25 percent of normal snowfall for March.

Drought

Above-normal March precipitation helped reduce the extent of drought across the Midwest by about 15 percent. By late March, 62 percent of the Midwest remained in drought or abnormally dry on the U.S. Drought Monitor map (Figure 6). Kentucky was the only state in the region that remained free of drought or dryness throughout the month. Drought improvements were most notable in Michigan, where the state went from 55 percent of land in drought in early March down to 25 percent in drought by month’s end. Improvements were also seen across Iowa, northern Illinois, and northern Indiana. Drought and abnormal dryness expanded in southern Missouri, and dryness expanded in southeast Ohio.

March 4-6, 2025 – Blizzard and Lake-Effect Snow

A March 4-6 storm system brought blizzard conditions to Iowa and Minnesota with 6 to 10 inches of snow and 40 to 50 mph winds while dropping near-record snow in northern Michigan (Figure 7). Marquette, Michigan, observed 20.8 inches of snow on March 6, making it the 3rd largest March daily snowfall since records began in 1961. In Iowa, blowing snow significantly affected road conditions and motorists, and there were reports of snow drifts over 10 feet high in rural areas.

March 13-15, 2025 – High Winds and Severe Weather Outbreak

A sprawling low-pressure system induced high winds gusting 40 to 55 mph across the region beginning late on March 13 and continuing for much of the day on March 14. Strong winds paired with dry conditions ahead of the growing storm system triggering Red Flag Warnings throughout Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois. Wildfire smoke from Texas and Oklahoma was carried northward by the strong winds, causing poor air quality in the central Midwest on March 14. Violent severe storms traversed the region starting the afternoon of March 14 (Figure 8) and into March 15 (Figure 9). At least 47 tornadoes were confirmed by the National Weather Service in Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. Twelve fatalities were reported in Missouri, making it the deadliest tornado day in the state since 2011 (Joplin EF5). Eleven of the confirmed tornadoes were rated EF3, with seven of those occurring in Missouri.

March 28-30, 2025 – Northern Michigan Ice Storm

A long-duration ice storm from March 28-30 blanketed northern Michigan with 0.25-1 inch of ice. This widespread icing brought down large trees and powerlines, caused massive power and gas outages, and closed bridges and roadways throughout the region. The severity of impacts, which lingered into early April, resulted in Michigan’s Governor declaring a state of emergency. According to the National Weather Service in Gaylord, Michigan, this storm is the worst icing event to affect northern Michigan since 1922.

Temperature

The average February temperature for the Midwest was 24.2°F, which was 2.1°F below the 1991-2020 normal. West of the Mississippi River, temperatures were 2 to 5°F cooler than normal, while conditions were near to slightly above normal in the eastern half of the region (Figure 1). Statewide average temperatures ranged from 3.8°F below normal in Minnesota to 0.5°F above normal in Kentucky (Figure 2). Temperatures to start and end the month were mild while mid-month conditions were very cold. Early warmth peaked on February 3 across the lower Midwest with high temperatures 25 to 30 °F above normal (Figure 3). An active weather pattern followed, ushering in persistently cold air. Seven-day average temperatures were 15 to 20°F below normal across the western half of the region from February 15-22 (Figure 4). In Sioux City, Iowa, maximum temperatures remained below 10°F for four consecutive days, February 16-19, for only the second time in February since 1989. In Butler, Missouri, a station with records dating back to 1890 measured low temperatures of -9°F or below for three consecutive days, February 20-22, for the first time on record. Temperatures thawed late in the month with most of the region having high temperatures 15 to 25°F above normal from February 24-28 (Figure 5). The average winter (December-February) temperature for the Midwest was 24.7°F, which was 0.8°F below normal (Figure 6).

Precipitation

February precipitation totaled 1.67 inches for the Midwest, which was 0.17 inches below normal, or 91 percent of normal (Figure 2). Precipitation was variable across the region. Above-normal precipitation was measured across the Ohio River Valley, with most of Kentucky having 4 to 6 inches more than usual (Figure 7). Precipitation across the far upper Midwest was up to 1 inch above normal. Conversely, the central and western Midwest logged little moisture, with monthly totals less than half of normal. Missouri, central Illinois, and the northern half of Indiana had precipitation deficits of 1 to 2 inches. Statewide precipitation totals ranged from 1.09 inches below normal in Missouri to 3.43 inches above normal in Kentucky (Figure 2). Final rankings indicate Kentucky had its 9th wettest February on record. The final total winter (December-February) precipitation was 5.25 inches, which was 0.72 inches below normal for the season (Figure 6).

Snowfall

Snowfall was above normal across the lower Midwest and far upper Midwest while snowfall was lacking in the central portion of the region (Figure 8). Across the lower Midwest, February snowfall totaled 2.5 to 7 inches, which was 175 to 400 percent of normal for the month. Michigan’s snowbelt regions had 20 to 50 inches, while far upper Midwest saw 10 to 20 inches of snowfall, which is above normal for these areas (Figure 9). Totals of less than 5 inches were widespread from Illinois eastward through Ohio, which is 25 to 75 percent of normal. Notably, southern Minnesota had less than 5 inches of snow in February, which is only 10 to 50 percent of normal. Winter (December-February) snowfall totals were above normal in the southern half of the region, below normal across the northern half, and near normal in Michigan’s lake-effected areas (Figure 10). Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, had its 2nd highest winter snowfall since 1888 with 138.9 inches.

Drought

February closed with about 40 percent of the region in drought, up 8 percent from the start of the month (Figure 11). About 26 percent of the region was abnormally dry. Drought and dryness were widespread across the upper Midwest, with the most severe conditions in northern Michigan and northern Minnesota. The Ohio River Valley was drought-free by month’s end, aided by ample winter precipitation.

Heavy Rainfall and Flooding in Kentucky

An extended storm event dropped 3 to 7 inches of rainfall across Kentucky on February 15-16 (Figure 12). Rivers rose rapidly, leading to widespread flooding across most of the state and at least 21 fatalities. Over 300 roadways were closed, and over 1,000 water rescues occurred. More than 40,000 customers were without power, and another 9,000 were without water. Mudslides happened in the mountainous areas of eastern Kentucky. Cold air and several inches of snow blanketed the state in the days following the rainstorms, complicating recovery efforts.

Temperature

The average January temperature for the Midwest was 19.8°F, which was 2.6°F below the 1991-2020 normal (Figure 1). Temperatures were near to just slightly below normal across the upper Midwest and as much as 7°F below normal across the lower Midwest (Figure 2). Statewide average temperatures ranged from 0.2°F below normal in Minnesota to 5.9°F below normal in Ohio (Figure 1). Repeated blasts of Arctic air affected the region in January. The most significant and widespread cold air outbreak occurred January 20-22, closing schools and businesses across the region. Low temperatures reached -20 to -40°F across Minnesota and Wisconsin, and temperatures dipped below 0°F across the lower Midwest (Figure 3). Strong winds associated with this cold snap drove wind chill temperatures across the lower Midwest down to -10 to -20°F. A late-month thaw ensued, and temperatures warmed 10 to 25°F above normal in the closing days of the month (Figure 4). Maximum temperatures reached the mid to upper 50s as far north as southern Minnesota and southern Wisconsin (Figure 5). Rochester, Minnesota, measured its second warmest January day on record when the temperature reached 56°F on January 30. In Decorah, Iowa, the temperature reached over 60°F on both January 30 and 31, becoming the only consecutive +60°F days in January ever recorded at that station (records date back to 1893).

Precipitation

January precipitation totaled 1.20 inches for the Midwest, which was 0.74 inches below normal, or 62 percent of normal (Figure 1). Precipitation was near to slightly above normal across the far lower Midwest, while most of the central and upper Midwest had half or less the normal amount of expected precipitation (Figure 6). Statewide precipitation totals ranged from 0.26 inches above normal in Kentucky to 1.56 inches below normal in Ohio (Figure 1). Final rankings indicate that Wisconsin had its 3rd driest January on record. La Crosse, Madison, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, all had their driest January on record, and Green Bay had its second driest. Dubuque, Iowa, with over 150 years of observations, also recorded its driest January.

Winter Weather

Above-normal snowfall was observed across the lower Midwest and in lake-affected areas in Michigan, while the central and upper Midwest had below-normal snowfall (Figure 7). A major winter storm traversed the lower Midwest January 5-7, dropping 7-12 inches of snow from Kansas City, Missouri, eastward through southern Ohio and 0.25-0.75 inches of freezing rain to the south-central Midwest (Figure 8). Widespread power outages were reported across southeast Missouri, southern Illinois, and western Kentucky. Another snow-producing storm dropped 2-6 inches of snow across the southern and eastern Midwest January 10-11 (Figure 9). Meanwhile, much of Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin were experiencing a snow drought, with January snowfall totals ranging from 5 to 15 inches below normal (Figure 7).

Temperature

The average December temperature for the Midwest was 30.2°F, which was 2.°F above the 1991-2020 normal (Figure 1). Temperatures ranged from near normal to as high as 4°F above normal across the entire region, with anomalies increasing from east to west (Figure 2). Statewide average temperatures ranged from 1.6°F above normal in Ohio to 3.2°F above normal in Iowa, Minnesota, and Missouri (Figure 1). Several quick blasts of Arctic air blanketed the region during the first half of December, resulting in average temperatures of 1-6°F below normal across the Midwest from December 1-15 (Figure 3). The month opened with chilly weather regionwide and single-digit wind chills as far south as Missouri and Kentucky. A strong Alberta clipper ushered in frigid air across much of the Midwest around December 12, causing air temperatures to fall below -20°F in Minnesota and bringing negative wind chills from Iowa eastward to Ohio. Temperatures rebounded for the second half of the month, averaging 6-10°F above normal across the Midwest (Figure 4). Record warm minimum temperatures from December 25-31 were reported at nearly a dozen long-running weather stations across the central Midwest, including in Des Moines (IA), St. Louis (MO), Fort Wayne (IN), Rockford (IL), and Milwaukee (WI).

Precipitation

December precipitation totaled 2.38 inches for the Midwest, which was 0.19 inches above normal, or 109 percent of normal. Precipitation was variable across the region, with a wide swath of above-normal precipitation from southeast Missouri to Michigan and Ohio (Figure 5). Statewide precipitation totals ranged from 0.27 inches below normal in Wisconsin to 1.06 inches above normal in Indiana (Figure 1). A freezing rain event on December 14 brought 0.1-0.7 inches of ice to eastern Iowa, northeast Missouri, western Illinois, southwest Wisconsin, and far southeastern Minnesota. This widespread icing event caused power outages, tree damage, and dangerous road conditions in the area. A notable 2-4 inches of precipitation fell across a wide area of the south-central Midwest from December 15-18, contributing to that area accumulating 150-200 percent of normal precipitation for the month (Figure 6).

Snowfall

Snowfall was below normal across the Lower Midwest, with most of the region accumulating less than 2.5 inches in December (Figure 7). Snowfall totals across Minnesota and Wisconsin ranged from 5-20 inches for the month, which was below normal. Snowfall in Duluth was 12 inches below normal for December. Lake-affected portions of Michigan and extreme northeast Ohio had abundant snowfall in December, with totals ranging from 20-60 inches, which is 100-175 percent of normal (Figure 8).

Drought

The Midwest had modest drought improvements in December, with a 9 percent reduction in areas with drought or abnormal dryness. Improvements were most notable across the Lower Midwest and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. December concluded with 59 percent of the region dry or in drought, with severe (D2) drought in northern Michigan, north-central Minnesota, and very small portions of western Iowa and southeast Ohio (Figure 9).

Temperature

The average November temperature for the Midwest was 43.3°F, which was 4.8°F above the 1991-2020 normal. Final rankings indicate the Midwest as a whole achieved the 7th warmest November on record. Statewide average temperatures ranged from 3.9°F above normal in Iowa to 6.0°F above normal in Kentucky (Figure 1). Final rankings indicate the following states had a top 7 warmest November on record: Indiana (6th), Kentucky (5th), Michigan (4th), Ohio (5th), and Wisconsin (7th). While both daytime high and nighttime low temperatures were persistently above normal throughout the month, it was the magnitude of the overnight warmth that was notable (Figure 2). Most weather stations along and east of the Mississippi River had low temperatures for the month that were 5-8 °F above normal. On November 4, Paducah, Kentucky, set a record-high November minimum temperature of 71°F. Lexington, Kentucky, observed a minimum temperature of 67°F on November 6, which was the warmest November minimum temperature since records began in 1872. A potent weather system traversed the Midwest on November 25, ushering in a dramatic change in temperatures that would linger for the rest of the month (and into December) (Figure 3). Temperatures dropped 20-30°F in 24 hours across the lower Midwest as the cold front swept through. Daytime high temperatures only reached the teens and 20s across the Upper and Central Midwest on the closing days of the month. The average fall (September-November) temperature for the Midwest was 4.3°F above normal, which was the 3rd warmest on record (Figure 4).

Precipitation

November precipitation totaled 3.67 inches for the Midwest, which was 1.13 inches above normal, or 144 percent of normal. Final rankings indicate the Midwest as a whole had its 9th wettest November on record. Precipitation was 150-300 percent of normal for a wide area across the western half of the region, with precipitation 125-200 percent of normal along the Ohio River (Figure 5). Every state had above-normal November precipitation, with statewide totals that ranged from 0.15 inches above normal in Ohio to 2.24 inches above normal in Missouri. Precipitation totals were particularly high across southern Missouri, driven by heavy rains during the first week of the month (Figure 6). A new two-day statewide precipitation record for November was set on Election Day (November 5) when Mountain Grove, Missouri, measured 12.5 inches of rain. Heavy rainfall on November 5 alone dropped 4-8 inches of flooding rain across a wide swath from south-central Missouri to the St. Louis area, inundating roadways and resulting in three fatalities. St. Louis had its 2nd wettest November on record (dating back 148 years), with 9.68 inches. Michigan’s Upper Peninsula was another very wet area for November, with Sault Ste Marie having its wettest November on record (dating back 137 years) and Marquette having its 2nd wettest November. Fall (September-November) precipitation for the Midwest totaled 7.01 inches, which was 2.05 inches below normal (Figure 4).

Drought

The month concluded with about 70 percent of the Midwest classified as abnormally dry or in drought (Figure 7), according to the U.S. Drought (USDM) map, which was a 24 percent reduction in drought coverage compared to the start of November (Figure 8). Dryness was completely removed around the southern extent of the Mississippi River and along the Ohio River. Southeast Ohio, which had been locked in exceptional (D4) drought for months, saw notable improvements in drought extent and severity. Relief was notable across the central and western regions, too, where severe (D2) drought was largely eliminated.

Late November Lake Effect Snow (LES)

The persistently warm fall temperatures resulted in record-high water temperatures in the Great Lakes by late November, which fueled a significant lake-effect snow event starting November 28 as cold arctic air spilled across the region. Snowfall totaled 24.8 inches in Gaylord, Michigan, on November 29, setting a new daily record. Across Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, 10-20 inches of snow fell from Nov 28-30, with isolated heavier amounts (Figure 9). Extreme northeast Ohio accumulated 5-10 inches of snow during that time. The intense LES persisted for a week into December, with storm event snowfall totals that would top out at 20-50 inches in northern Michigan and northeast Ohio.

Temperature

The average October temperature for the Midwest was 56.0°F, which was 4.6°F above the 1991-2020 normal. Final rankings indicate the Midwest as a whole had the 9th warmest October on record (Figure 1). The entire Midwest was warmer than usual, with average temperatures ranging from 5-7°F above normal in the northwest to 1-3°F above normal in the southeast (Figure 2). Statewide average temperatures ranged from 6.3°F above normal in Minnesota to 2.3°F above normal in Kentucky (Figure 1). Final rankings indicate Minnesota and Iowa both had the 6th warmest October on record (Figure 3). Persistently high daytime maximum temperatures largely drove the above-normal monthly temperatures (Figure 4), while overnight minimum temperatures were fairly typical for October, except in the northwest, where overnight temperatures were up to a few degrees above normal (Figure 5). Green Bay, Wisconsin, had five separate days this month with temperatures reaching or exceeding 80°F, the third-greatest number of October days reaching this threshold in 137 years. With 17 days, Springfield, Missouri, had their second-greatest number of October days with temperatures at or above 80°F. Much of the region achieved its first freeze of the fall season in mid-October, effectively ending the growing season (Figure 6).

Precipitation

October precipitation totaled 1.14 inches for the Midwest, which was 1.96 inches below normal, or 37 percent of normal (Figure 1). Final rankings indicate the Midwest as a whole had its 9th driest October on record. The lack of October rainfall was widespread and severe regionwide. Only a narrow swath from northwest Missouri to east-central Wisconsin had near-normal precipitation (Figure 7). Elsewhere, precipitation was 2-4 inches below normal, with large portions of Indiana and Kentucky receiving less than 0.25 inches for the entire month (Figure 8). Statewide precipitation totals ranged from 0.99 inches below normal in Iowa to 3.50 inches below normal in Kentucky (Figure 1). Final rankings indicate that both Indiana and Kentucky had their 2nd driest October on record, and Ohio had its 7th driest (Figure 9). Numerous cities throughout the region had their driest October on record, including Jackson, Kentucky; Frankfort, Indiana; Mansfield, Ohio; and Milan, Minnesota. Dozens more locations had a top 10 driest month. Across the lower Midwest and large portions of Minnesota and Iowa, measurable precipitation (greater than 0.01 inches) was reported on just 1-4 days during the entire month (Figure 10).

Drought

The month ended with about 97 percent of the Midwest classified as abnormally dry or in drought, according to the U.S. Drought (USDM) map, which was about an 18 percent expansion compared to the start of October (Figure 11). Exceptional (D4) drought remained widespread across southeast Ohio, and extreme (D3) drought emerged in southwest Missouri. Moderate (D1) to severe (D2) drought blanketed the central and upper Midwest, while areas adjacent to the Ohio River were abnormally dry.

Severe Weather

The large-scale weather pattern for October was dominated by high-pressure systems that suppressed cloud formation, precipitation, and storm development for much of the region over much of the month. The pattern started to shift in the closing days of the month when a weather disturbance traversed the upper Midwest, surging warm, unstable air and strong southerly winds across the lower Midwest. When paired with the previous weeks of dry weather, this resulted in elevated fire risk from October 28-30. A single day of notable severe weather was observed on October 30 when damaging winds and isolated tornadoes were reported across Missouri, southern Iowa, and far western Illinois (Figure 12).

Temperature

The average September temperature for the Midwest was 67.1°F, which was 3.5°F above the 1991-2020 normal. Temperatures were above normal regionwide, with the warmest anomalies across the upper Midwest and temperatures just slightly above normal in the far southern Midwest (Figure 1). Statewide average temperatures ranged from 1.6deg;F above normal in Missouri to 6.6°F above normal in Minnesota (Figure 2). Final rankings indicate that Minnesota had its warmest September on record. Numerous long-running observation sites across Minnesota also reported their warmest September on record, with records broken in Minneapolis, St. Cloud, and Duluth. Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, had its warmest September, dating back 137 years. The first week of September was marked with temperatures 1-7°F below normal regionwide (Figure 3). La Crosse, Wisconsin, had its earliest 40°F reading in September since 1986. Temperatures quickly rebounded by mid-month, with persistent warmth lasting through late September. Vast swaths of Wisconsin and Michigan had a record consecutive streak of daily high temperatures at or above 80°F for September (Figure 4).

Precipitation

September precipitation totaled 2.12 inches for the Midwest, which was 1.3 inches below normal, or 62 percent of normal. There was a decisive north-south gradient in rainfall, with extreme dryness to the north and extreme wetness to the south (Figure 5). Statewide precipitation totals ranged from 2.76 inches below normal in Iowa to 2.7 inches above normal in Kentucky (Figure 2). Final rankings indicate Kentucky had its 5th wettest September on record. The remnants of Hurricane Helene largely drove Kentucky’s anomalous wetness. Helene brought 4-6 inches of widespread rain from September 27-29 (Figure 6). Before Helene, accumulated monthly rainfall was just 25-75 percent of normal across central and eastern Kentucky. Conversely, final rankings indicate that Iowa and Minnesota had their 1st driest September on record, and Michigan had their 3rd driest September on record. Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, had their driest September on record. Numerous other long-running stations across Iowa, Minnesota, and Michigan had a top five driest month (Figure 7).

Drought

The month ended with about 78 percent of the Midwest classified as abnormally dry or in drought, according to the U.S. Drought (USDM) map (Figure 8), which was about a 34 percent expansion compared to the start of September (Figure 9). Exceptional (D4) drought remained widespread across southeast Ohio, while moderate to severe drought was introduced across the far upper Midwest. Abnormally dry conditions blanketed most of the region. The only areas to see significant improvement in dryness were southeast Missouri, southern Illinois, and Kentucky.

Temperature

The average August temperature for the Midwest was 71.3°F, which was 0.4°F above the 1991-2020 normal (Figure 1). Throughout the region, temperatures were largely near normal, with localized pockets of slightly above-normal temperatures (Figure 2). Statewide average temperatures ranged from 0.2°F below normal in Missouri to 1.1°F above normal in Ohio. August started and ended with warm conditions, while mid-month temperatures were cooler than normal for most. During the last week in August, the central and lower Midwest had several days with temperatures in the mid-to-upper 90s, with a few isolated locations in the lower Midwest reaching triple digits. The average summer (June-August) temperature for the Midwest was slightly above normal, with temperatures about 1-2°F above normal in Ohio and eastern Kentucky and near-normal temperatures for the rest of the region (Figure 3).

Precipitation

August precipitation totaled 3.18 inches for the Midwest, which was 0.49 inches below normal, or 87 percent of normal (Figure 1). Precipitation was 1-3 inches above normal across the upper Midwest, northern and south-central Missouri, and northeast Ohio (Figure 4). Precipitation deficits of 2-4 inches were observed in the south-central Midwest, southeast Ohio, and central Iowa. Statewide precipitation totals ranged from 1.14 inches below normal in Kentucky to 0.41 inches above normal in Minnesota. While there were no statewide records this month, some localized areas reported record or near-record precipitation extremes. In Ohio and Minnesota, there were sharp gradients of wet-to-dry conditions. The Akron area, in northeast Ohio, had its 9th wettest August in 132 years with 6.55 inches. In contrast, the Zanesville area in southeastern Ohio recorded its driest August in 125 years, measuring just 0.17 inches of rainfall for the month. Alexandria, in central Minnesota, tied for the 3rd wettest August in 83 years with 7.53 inches of rain. Summer precipitation for the Midwest was slightly above normal overall, with seasonal precipitation 125-175 percent of normal across the northwest decreasing to 50-75 percent of normal across the southeast (Figure 5).

Drought

Drought and abnormally dry conditions expanded and intensified across the region in August, covering about 37 percent of the region by late August, according to the U.S. Drought (USDM) map (Figure 6). The most severe conditions were focused over southeastern Ohio, where intensity reached D4 (exceptional) drought for the first time since the USDM began in the year 2000 (Figure 7). Drought-affected areas in Ohio had poor-quality pastures, farmers were hauling water, cow/calf weaning was earlier than normal, and there was an increased risk of field fires. Elsewhere across the region, abnormally dry conditions and D1 (moderate) drought were sporadic across the region and expanding in coverage to end the month.