|
For Immediate Release December 4, 2001
With an average temperature of 46.5oF, the Midwest experienced its warmest November in the climate record dating back to 1895, shattering the 1931 record by 1.5 degrees, according to the Midwestern Regional Climate Center, located at the Illinois State Water Survey in Champaign, Illinois. Four states set records for highest monthly average temperatures: Iowa (47.3oF), Michigan (43.7oF), Wisconsin (42.9oF), and Minnesota (40.8oF). It was also the third warmest November in Illinois (49.4oF), Indiana (49.0oF), and Ohio (47.8oF); fourth warmest in Missouri (50.7oF); and fifth warmest in Kentucky (51.5oF). "The remarkable thing about this warm November weather was its intensity and duration. The average temperature was 11.8 degrees above normal in Minnesota and 10.7 degrees above normal in Iowa, breaking the old records by more than 2.5 and 3 degrees, respectively," says Steve Hilberg MRCC Director. The warmest temperatures were in the western and northern Midwest for almost the entire month, while the eastern and southern Midwest were slightly cooler. With the exception of a few weak, rapidly moving storm systems, high pressure dominated, which shifted the jet stream and cold air to the north. The pattern ended after an intense low pressure center and strong cold front moved through on November 24 and 25. The record temperature levels would have been even greater, but colder weather arrived during
the last week of November. "The monthly departures from normal were actually running 2-3 degrees
warmer until November 25, especially in the western portion of the region," says Hilberg.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home | Highlights | Staff | Data | Information | Centers | Site Map |
 |
Illinois State Water Survey, Contact Information University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
All files and information © 2008 Illinois State Water Survey. Terms of use. |
|
|