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Warmer Conditions Prevail in Late May
After a cold start to May (see earlier post), the period between May 18 and 27 was much warmer. The statewide average temperature during this period was 3.7 degrees above normal. The earlier cold...
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Rains and Hot Weather Continue in Illinois
The wetter and warmer than normal weather continued in Illinois this week. For the period of June 16-22, the state average temperature was 76.8 degrees, 3.6 degrees above normal. Meanwhile the...
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Tropical Storm Hermine Reaches Illinois
The remains of Tropical Storm Hermine have reached Illinois this morning. Rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are possible and flash flood warnings have been issued. Check the National Weather Service as...
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2011: A Year of Extremes
I think we will remember 2011 as a year of extreme events. In Illinois we have already faced a February blizzard, flooding, record rainfalls, drought, and a heat wave. The latest newsletter of the...
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Agricultural Disaster Declaration for Illinois
Governor Quinn announced yesterday that federal disaster assistance is available to help Illinois farmers who suffered crop losses due to flooding this year (full press release). As noted in the press...
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Extreme Weather Year in the US
This year has been noteworthy for the number of extreme events across the U.S. In fact, we have had 12 disasters that have exceeded $1 billion in losses each in 2011. We also experienced some $50...
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How Much Rain Do We Need to End the Drought
[Updated July 20 for a more frequently updated map from the Climate Prediction Center] People have asked me several times this week, “how much rain do we need to end the drought?” There is no easy way...
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Heavy Rains of April 18-19, 2013
Northern and central Illinois saw widespread heavy rains on April 18-19, 2013. As a result, widespread flooding occurred first at the local level and then along major rivers by the weekend. Last year...
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April Already 4th Wettest on Record
Based on preliminary data, this April in Illinois is already the 4th wettest on record with 6.58 inches of precipitation. Average statewide precipitation for April is 3.77 inches. So we are already...
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April 4th Wettest On Record
Precipitation This April was the 4th wettest on record for Illinois with 6.90 inches, based on the preliminary numbers. That was 3.13 inches above the long-term average of 3.77 inches. To show you how...
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Flood Risk on the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers
The heavy rainfall across the Midwest in recent weeks has increased the risk of flooding on the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. Rainfall totals were highest in western Illinois, northern Missouri,...
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Friday Roundup in Illinois
It is no surprise that June has turned into a wetter-than-average month. The statewide precipitation in Illinois is sitting at 6.1 inches, 1.9 inches above average. Several locations in central and...
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June in Illinois – Warmer and Wetter Than Average
The statewide average precipitation for June 2014 in Illinois was 6.78 inches, 2.58 inches above average and the 8th wettest June on record. The wettest June on record was 1902 with 8.27 inches. Four...
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Chicago Gets Soaked Again
Heavy rains fell across the Chicago metropolitan area again today (August 22, 2014). Here is the map of rainfall amounts from our volunteer CoCoRaHS network. You will get a slightly larger and more...
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Illinois on List Twice for Billion-Dollar Weather Disasters of 2013
According to the National Climatic Data Center, Illinois was on the list twice for billion-dollar weather disasters in 2013. In both cases, some damages occurred elsewhere but Illinois took the brunt...
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Flooding – Deadly Risk in Illinois with 28 Deaths in 19 Years
Right now the attention is on the widespread flooding in Texas and Oklahoma, with the number of deaths sitting at 21 and climbing. Illinois has been faced with deadly flooding in the past. An...
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Wet June So Far in Illinois – More on the Way
Rainfall across Illinois and the central US has been substantial for June so far. This map represents the June rainfall through this morning. Large portions of the Missouri and Upper Mississippi River...
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So Far, Fifth Wettest June on Record for Illinois
Even before today’s rain, the statewide average rainfall for June in Illinois is 7.11 inches. That makes it the 5th wettest June on record. And June is not over. Here are the top ten wettest June...
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2015 Versus 1993 in the Midwest
I have had several people say that all this summer feels like 1993. If you compare 2015 with 1993 in the maps below for June 1 – July 13, you can see that in 2015 the heavy rains were more … Continue...
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Response to Damaging Rains in Illinois: Monthly Rainfall Totals for Over 500...
Recently, Illinois officials have sought a federal disaster declaration from USDA in response to the heavy rainfall and damaging flooding across Illinois during May, June, and July of 2015. Update...
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