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For Immediate Release November 9, 2001
"October 2001 was the 3rd wettest October on record in Illinois since 1895 with some severe weather and cooler temperatures than average. August-October also was the 9th wettest 3-month period, and May-October was the 17th wettest 6-month period," 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. According to Water Survey records, precipitation was well above average in October: 6.58 inches compared to an average of 2.78 inches. Monthly totals were highest at Paris (9.87 inches) and Olney (9.75 inches). Temperatures were 1.5 degrees cooler than the 55 degree average for October in Illinois. Brownstown reported the warmest reading, 87 degrees on October 2, and Freeport reported the coldest reading, 13 degrees on October 17. Thunderstorms in northwestern Illinois resulted in at least 22 reports of hail ranging in size from 0.25 to 1.75 inches on October 23. More severe weather on October 24 resulted in 43 reports of hail, 14 reports of wind damage, and a confirmed tornado in Monticello with no deaths or serious injuries reported. Long-term records show that only 1-2 percent of tornadoes in Illinois occur in October. "Cool, wet conditions in October were good for replenishing soil moisture but did slow down harvest operations and construction. November temperatures are typically much cooler with average highs from the mid-40s (north) to the mid-50s (south) and average lows from the upper 20s (north) to the upper 30s (south). Average November precipitation ranges from 2.8 inches (north) to 4.4 inches (south). Heating degree days measure heating demand and range from 800 degree days (north) to 550 degree days (south). This month there's also a high likelihood of seeing the season's first measurable snowfall with monthly averages ranging from 2.5 inches (northwest) to 0.5 inches (far south)," says Angel. |
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