“After a cold February, the pendulum swung the other
way, giving Illinois March temperatures averaging 47.6°F statewide, 6.5°F above normal and the 6th
warmest March on record since 1895. Several
cities, particularly Champaign-Urbana, set or tied daily high temperature
records,” 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.
March 13 records were exceeded at Chicago
(73 degrees), Rockford (74 degrees), and Peoria (78 degrees), and
tied at Champaign-Urbana (78 degrees). March 14 records were tied at Springfield (75 degrees)
and exceeded at Champaign-Urbana (78 degrees). The March 25 record was exceeded
at Champaign-Urbana (80 degrees).
“Statewide March precipitation was 3.43 inches, 0.22 inches above
normal, based on preliminary data. Most
of the heavier rainfall, 3–6 inches, fell over the northern half of the state.
The southern half of the state was drier, with rainfall totals of 1–3 inches in
most areas,” adds Angel.
National Weather Service outlooks for April–June and
July–September call for both temperatures and precipitation having equal
chances of being above, below, or near normal.
“Those very warm March temperatures may have fooled us, and plants,
into thinking spring was here to stay, but wintry temperatures returned in early
April. April is usually when the last freezing temperatures occur: northern Illinois (April 28), central Illinois
(April 14–21), and southern Illinois
(April 7). If you’re thinking of planting tender annuals, add about 2 weeks to
those dates. See (http://www.sws.uiuc.edu/atmos/statecli/Frost/frost.htm)
for more frost information,” concludes Angel.
Disclaimer: Data used for all statistics provided herein are from
the Midwestern Regional Climate
Center and are based on preliminary
data.
