“Preliminary
data for October indicate that rainfall averaged 1.26 inches (1.61 inches below
normal), failing to relieve drought conditions across central and northern Illinois. Rainfall since
March statewide averaged 19.69 inches, 9.53 inches below normal and Illinois’ fourth driest
March–October since 1895. It was also the driest March–October on record in
northeastern Illinois,
which had only 15.79 inches since March (12.65 inches below normal). Tuscola
had the highest one-day precipitation total (2.50 inches on October 21), and Windsor had the highest
monthly total (3.52 inches),” 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.
Across
the state, rainfall has been below normal since March 1. For example, Chicago
O’Hare Airport received only 14.2 inches (13.2 inches below normal); Rockford,
13.9 inches (15.3 inches below); Moline, 12.0 inches (18.0 inches below);
Peoria, 14.7 inches (12.8 inches below); Quincy, 17.6 inches (11.6 inches
below); Springfield, 19.0 inches (7.7 inches below); Champaign, 22.6 inches
(8.3 inches below); and Carbondale, 22.6 inches (7.2 inches below). Check the
ISWS’ drought Web site for regular updates (http://www.sws.uiuc.edu/hilites/drought/).
“October
temperatures averaged 55.5°F statewide (0.8 degrees above normal).
This also is the fifth consecutive month of temperatures above normal and the tenth
warmest June–October on record. Extremes ranged from 92°F degrees at
Hutsonville on October 5 to 20°F at Mt. Carroll
on October 28.
“The
National Weather Service’s November outlook calls for an increased chance of temperatures
above normal but is noncommittal about precipitation. Their winter prediction also
is noncommittal about precipitation and temperatures for Illinois. Last winter both temperatures and
precipitation were above normal in Illinois
by 3.3 degrees and 2.24 inches, respectively,” says Angel.
