Fall precipitation in portions of Minnesota and western Iowa was 4 to 6 inches below normal. September through November precipitation totals from around Minnesota were 1.15 inches in Redwood Falls, 1.36 inches in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, 2.39 inches in Saint Cloud, and 3.21 inches in Duluth. In Iowa, Sioux City recorded just 0.59 inches and Sioux Rapids recorded 1.37 inches.

In Minneapolis-Saint Paul, fall precipitation (1.36 inches) was a negative departure of 5.92 inches from the 1981-2010 normal. The autumn of 2011 in the Twin Cities was the driest in the 141-year record, according to the Minnesota Climatology Working Group.

In Minnesota and northwest Iowa, the minimal fall precipitation intensified the existing abnormally dry conditions. As a result, this region saw the development of moderate to severe agricultural drought conditions on the U.S. Drought Monitor over the past three months.

The dry conditions have created some negative impacts in Minnesota and northwest Iowa. Negative impacts include reduced crop yields, smaller soybeans, difficult tillage operations, and damage to farming equipment.

Fortunately, not all drought impacts in this region have been negative. A dry fall produced an ideal harvest for farmers, assisted in the drying of corn without utilizing grain dryers, and extended the outdoor construction and maintenance work seasons. In addition, the dry conditions this fall will reduce the probability for flooding next spring, which river communities are thankful for after three consecutive years of spring flooding.

In contrast, the eastern Midwest received ample precipitation this fall. Kentucky and parts of Ohio, Indiana, southern Illinois, and southeast Missouri received 15 to 20 inches of precipitation (Figure 2), which is 6 to 10 inches above normal fall precipitation. This abundant rainfall helped eliminate abnormally dry and drought conditions on the U.S. Drought Monitor altogether across this region.

However, the unseasonably high precipitation in the eastern Midwest did not come without some negative consequences. Flooding was an issue on a few occasions in Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana.

The highest temperature for the month was 67 degrees at Cairo on December 5. The lowest temperature was 0 degrees at Monmouth on December 10.

The statewide average precipitation for December in Illinois was 3.43 inches, 0.74 inches above average or 127percent of average. The highest precipitation total for the month was Brookport Dam (along the Ohio River) with 7.70 inches.

Snowfall totals for December were much below average across the state. The highest snowfall total for the month was at Stockton (far northwestern corner of Illinois) with 4.0 inches. Snowfall totals were less than an inch in southeastern Illinois and 1 to 2 inches elsewhere in the state.

By mid-December last winter, much of Illinois had experienced 10 to 25 inches of snow.

The statewide average precipitation for 2011 in Illinois was 45.62 inches; 5.43 inches above the 1981-2010 average of 40.20 inches. It was also the wettest April, 8th wettest June, and 6th wettest November on record.

On the other hand, it was the 6th driest August and 21st driest October on record.

The statewide average temperature for 2011 in Illinois was 53.0 degrees; 0.8 degrees above the 1981-2010 average of 52.2 degrees. It was the 23rd warmest year on record. It was also the 4th warmest July, the 7th warmest November, and 8th warmest December on record. Yet it was the 17th coldest January and 10th coldest September since 1895.

Du Quoin came close to reaching the state record for annual precipitation when it reported 72.11 inches. The state record was 74.58 inches, set in New Burnside in 1950.

However, not everywhere was so wet in 2011. A few sites in central and western Illinois reported 30 inches or less of precipitation. These included Lake Springfield with 25.34 inches and Illinois City Dam #16 with 27.47 inches. One of the driest major cities was Springfield with 30.61 inches, reported at the airport.

Across the Corn Belt, lowland flooding is underway in several river basins across the eastern Corn Belt, following the latest round of significant rainfall.

In the South, recent showers and thunderstorms provided drought relief in the southern Atlantic coastal Plain.

In the West, despite above-normal reservoir storage in much of the West, concerns are mounting—especially from California to the central Rockies—with respect to meager mountain snow packs and developing drought.

Across the Corn Belt, mild weather prevails. Rain is falling in the Ohio Valley, maintaining soggy conditions in much of the soft red winter wheat belt.

In the South, heavy showers and locally severe thunderstorms are sweeping across the lower Mississippi Valley. Meanwhile, a steady rain is falling in areas farther north, including parts of the Tennessee Valley. Unfavorably dry conditions persist, however, in the southern Atlantic region.

In the West, mild, unfavorably dry weather has returned from central California to the western slopes of the central Rockies following recent much-needed precipitation. Warm, dry weather also prevails in the Southwest. Meanwhile, showery weather continues from the Pacific Northwest to the northern Rockies.

Across the Corn Belt, a few snow showers linger in the vicinity of the Great Lakes. Mild, dry weather covers the remainder of the Midwest. In the wake of recent storms, snow covers roughly the northern half of the region, while soggy conditions persist in much of the eastern Corn Belt.

In the South, isolated rain showers linger from southern Texas to the coastal Carolinas. Drought remains a significant concern in many areas, including Florida’s peninsula. Statewide, nearly half (42%) of Florida’s pastures were rated in very poor to poor condition on January 22, according to USDA.

In the West, the latest in a series of Pacific storms is approaching the northern Pacific Coast. Precipitation (rain and snow) is moving into western portions of Washington and Oregon. According to USDA, rangeland in California’s Sacramento Valley has begun to green in response to recent precipitation. Farther east, snow is falling in parts of the central and southern Rockies, in conjunction with a developing storm system.

Across the Corn Belt, snow is falling across parts of the upper Midwest. Tuesday morning’s snow depths include 3 inches at both Des Moines, Iowa, and La Crosse, Wisconsin. Meanwhile, showers and thunderstorms are affecting the southern and eastern Corn Belt.

In the South, widely scattered showers stretch from eastern Texas to the southern Atlantic States. Most of Florida, however, remains unfavorably dry.

In the West, rain and snow showers are spreading inland from the Pacific Northwest to the northern Rockies. Elsewhere, cool, dry weather prevails. In California, a hard freeze warning is in effect Tuesday morning in the Sacramento Valley, while a Freeze Warning was issued for the San Joaquin Valley.

At this time, between 2 to 4 inches of snow is expected to fall across southeast and south-central Wisconsin. In addition, the increasing northwest winds will result in blowing and drifting snow.

As a result, a Winter Weather Advisory has been posted for all of southern Wisconsin into the mid-afternoon hours.

The Weather Maps

Across the Corn Belt, widespread snow showers continue downwind of the Great Lakes. Cold, dry weather covers the remainder of the Midwest. Some of the coldest air of the season covers the upper Midwest, where some locations reported sub-zero temperatures Friday morning.

In the South, isolated showers dot southern Florida. Cool, dry weather covers the remainder of the region. A freeze warning was in effect Friday morning in parts of southern Texas, although temperatures remained above 32°F in key winter agricultural areas of the lower Rio Grande Valley.

In the West, dry weather persists. Despite meager snow packs, especially from the Sierra Nevada to the western slopes of the central Rockies, Western reservoirs still have mostly above-average storage. In fact, only Arizona and New Mexico were reporting below-average storage on January 1.

Across the Corn Belt, some of the coldest weather of the season prevails, while snow showers continue downwind of the Great Lakes. Tuesday morning’s low temperatures generally ranged from around 0° in the upper Midwest to near 20° along the Ohio River. Fields are freezing in the eastern Corn Belt, allowing some producers to move ahead with final corn harvest efforts.

In the South, freezes were noted Tuesday morning north of a line from southern Louisiana to northern Florida. However, Florida’s winter agricultural areas did not experience a freeze.

In the West, mild, dry weather prevails in advance of an approaching Pacific storm. Dry weather favors fieldwork, including Arizona’s late-season cotton harvesting, but rain is needed in California to revive cool-season pastures.