This handout provides information on the typical La Niña winter pattern; the La Niña outlook; potential winter and spring impacts; and comparisons of conditions during previous La Niña years for the Great Lakes region. Updated November 2024.
NOAA’s Regional Climate Services Program created these Outlooks to inform the public about climate impacts within their respective regions. Each regional report contains easy-to-understand language, and anyone can access them through the U.S. Drought Portal.
This report provides information on the typical La Niña winter pattern; the La Niña outlook; potential impacts; and comparisons of conditions during previous La Niña years for the Midwest U.S. Updated November 2024.
NOAA’s Regional Climate Services Program created these outlooks to inform the public about climate impacts within their respective regions. Each regional report contains easy-to-understand language, and anyone can access them through the U.S. Drought Portal.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Great Lakes Region for June–August 2024. Dated September 2024.
Summer temperatures ranged from near normal to 2°C (4°F) above normal, particularly in the southern Ontario basin. Summer featured near- or above-average rainfall for all basins, with the overall basin seeing 113% of average.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Midwest Region for June–August 2024. Dated September 2024.
Summer temperatures were near normal for the majority of the region, except in Ohio and central Kentucky where temperatures were 1–2°F above normal. Summer precipitation (June, July, and August combined) for the Midwest was slightly above normal overall, with precipitation 125%–175% of normal across the northwest, decreasing to 50%–75% of normal across the southeast.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Great Lakes Region for March–May 2024. Dated June 2024.
Spring and March were up to 4°C (7°F) warmer than normal. April and May were up to 3°C (5°F) warmer than normal. Most U.S. cities around and east of Lake Michigan had a top 5 warmest spring. Spring precipitation was near average in the Superior and Ontario basins and above average for the other basins. The overall basin saw 112% of average precipitation.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Midwest Region for March–May 2024. Dated June 2024.
Spring temperatures were 1-4°F above normal across the northwestern Midwest and up to 6°F above normal in the eastern half of the region. Spring precipitation was above normal for the Midwest. Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin had their 4th wettest spring on record.