“Winter was the 7th wettest, 15th warmest winter in Illinois since 1895 if you define
winter like climatologists do using the three calendar months between December and February.
That definition more closely fits the period during which winter weather actually occurs in
Illinois, rather than astronomical seasons based on sun position,” says State Climatologist Jim
Angel of the Illinois State Water Survey (http://www.sws.uiuc.edu), a division of the Illinois
Department of Natural Resources.
During this period, statewide precipitation totaled 9.29 inches, 42 percent above normal
(see map), and temperatures averaged 3.4 degrees above normal.
“Statistics for February also were above normal. Precipitation was 1.97 inches statewide,
just 2 percent above normal. Because temperatures were 35.6°F, 5.4 degrees above normal,
February ranks as the 13th warmest February on record,” says Angel.
Extremes ranged from 74°F at Belleville (southern Illinois) on February 15 to 5°F at Mt.
Carroll (northwestern Illinois) on February 18. Pittsfield had the highest one-day precipitation
total (1.30 inches on February 14), while Grayville had the highest monthly total (3.18 inches).
February snowfall was below normal statewide. “Monthly totals averaged 1–4 inches
across the state although Elburn (northeastern Illinois) reported 6.0 inches. Winter snowfall also
was below normal except in the Chicago area and far southern Illinois where snowfall amounts
were near normal,” says Angel.
Historically, a wet winter only slightly increases the odds for a spring with near normal
precipitation and below normal temperatures. “In summer, however, the relationship is more
profound: above normal precipitation 49 percent of the time and a slightly increased chance for
below normal temperatures,” says Angel.
“Even if precipitation this spring is near normal, the very wet soils need time to dry out so
that field work can begin, unlike last year when spring planting got started early,” concludes
Angel.
