Midwest Overview - December 2011

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Above Normal Temperatures

The entire Midwest recorded above normal temperatures for the month of December (Figure 1). Departures from normal ranged from 3°F in southern Missouri to 10°F in northwest Minnesota. Daily temperature records were dominated by 629 record highs with just seven record lows for the month.
 

Varied Precipitation

Precipitation varied from less than 0.25" in parts of Minnesota to 8.00" in southwestern Kentucky (Figure 2). The southern two thirds of the region was above normal while the northern third was below normal (Figure 3). Southern Iowa and northwest Missouri topped twice their normal December precipitation (Figure 4). Over 900 daily precipitation records were set in December.
 

Snowfall Below Normal

December snowfall totals were below normal across the region (Figure 5). Most of the upper Midwest was 5" to 10" below normal with areas on the lee side of the Great Lakes twice as far below normal (Figure 6). The lack of snow has hurt winter sports in the upper Midwest but it has been a boon to municipalities across the region that are running well under budget for snow removal.
 

2011 Precipitation

Statewide 2011 annual precipitation values were new records for Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky and annual precipitation totals for 2011 broke records at many Midwest locations (Figure 7). Totals shattered old records by several inches at many locations. Cincinnati, OH (with 140 years of data) eclipsed its old record by more than 15" with 73.28" in 2011 topping the old record of 57.58" from 1990. Most of the Ohio River Valley recorded 15" to 25" above normal while the northwest third of the region was below normal (Figure 8). Some locations along the Ohio River were more than 50% above normal for the year. Annual temperatures were close to normal across the Midwest with most locations within 1°F of normal.
 

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The Indiana State Climate Office also contributed to this report.
The Iowa Climatology Bureau also contributed to this report.
The Missouri Climate Center also contributed to this report.