What is the climate and geography of the Midwest?
The climate of the Midwestern U.S. is largely temperate one where all four seasons exist. However summers can be very hot and humid in some parts and winters can be very cold and full of blistery snow. This area of the country is also known for severe thunderstorms and even tornadoes.
What are the seasons like in the Midwest?
Spring and autumn temperatures tend to be moderate, ranging from the 50s to 70s. Summers in the Midwest tend to be humid and hot. Temperatures in the 80s and 90s are common, and in many areas of the region, the temperature rises to triple digits at least a few times each summer.
What is the climate of the Midwest in winter?
Winter Season Summary Overall, the Midwest experienced unseasonably warm average temperatures and below normal snowfall this winter. Average temperatures were at least 4°F above normal across the Midwest, with parts of Minnesota experiencing average temperatures that were 7°F to 9°F above normal (Figure 9).
Why is Midwest humid?
In addition to the heat dome affecting the Midwest is a process called transpiration. Plants draw water from the ground and it eventually evaporates off the leaves raising the level of humidity in the atmosphere. Corn and soybean plants transpire the most moisture.
Is the Midwest cold?
The Midwest is subject to extremely cold air masses from the far north, and warm, humid air masses from the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in a wide range of both temperature and precipitation extremes. The Midwest has gotten warmer, with average annual temperatures increasing over the last several decades.
Why is Midwest so hot?
The Midwest is subject to extremely cold air masses from the far north, and warm, humid air masses from the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in a wide range of both temperature and precipitation extremes.
Why is Midwest so warm?
In contrast, Midwest summers are characteristically hot and humid due to a semi-permanent high pressure system in the subtropical Atlantic that draws warm, humid ocean air into the area. Summer also tends to be the rainiest season, with short-lived rainfall and thunderstorms.
Why is the Midwest so hot and cold?
The Midwest is subject to extremely cold air masses from the far north, and warm, humid air masses from the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in a wide range of both temperature and precipitation extremes. The Midwest has gotten warmer, with average annual temperatures increasing over the last several decades.
Does the Midwest have high humidity?
Nearly all of the Midwest has a humid continental climate, describing temperatures that vary greatly from summer to winter, and appreciable precipitation year-round.