The preliminary statewide average March temperature was 47.3 degrees, 5.9 degrees above the 1991–2020 normal, 7.5 degrees above the 20th Century average, 5.3 degrees above the most recent 30-year average, and it tied for 9th warmest March on record going back to 1895.
The preliminary statewide average total March precipitation was 4.85 inches, 1.91 inches above the 1991–2020 normal, 1.76 inches above the 20th Century average, 1.74 inches above the most recent 30-year average, and the 15th wettest March on record statewide and the wettest March since 1985.
Data are provisional and may change slightly over time
March Temperature Roller Coaster
March temperatures had ebb and flow that is typical of spring in Illinois, but last month took that pattern to the extreme. As daily temperatures and departures from the 1991-2020 normals in Anna show, March temperatures were consistently 10 to 25 degrees above normal in the first half of the month, followed by a huge dip with temperatures 10 to 25 degrees below normal, and then a mixed but mostly warmer end to the month.
March average temperatures ranged from the high 30s in northwest Illinois to the high 50s in southern Illinois, between 5 and 11 degrees above the 1991-2020 normal (Figure 2).
Last month saw multiple waves of summer-like temperatures across the state, including daily highs of 93 degrees in Jacksonville and 89 in Bloomington-Normal. Dozens of locations across the state set new all-time March high temperature records, including 88 degrees in Champaign-Urbana, 92 degrees in Springfield, and 86 degrees in Carbondale. Many of the records, including those in Champaign-Urbana and Bloomington-Normal, were last broken well over 100 years ago.
A few stations’ high temperatures last month were also higher than their all-time April high temperature records, including 93 degrees in Jerseyville and 92 in Springfield. Speaking of Springfield, our state capital had its earliest 90 degree day on record last month. The previous earliest 90 degree day in Springfield was May 5th of 1943, a full 40 days after the new record of March 26th.
Very cold weather, while fleeting, did bring temperatures well below freezing across the state last month, including nighttime low temperatures of 4 degrees in Monmouth and 9 degrees in Aurora. The coldest place in the state last month was Stockton with an average of 39.0 degrees, while the warmest place in the state last month was Dixon Springs with an average temperature of 56.3 degrees.
The milder weather last month broke 88 daily high maximum temperature records in Illinois and 19 daily high minimum temperature records. Meanwhile, the brief cold spell in mid-Marh broke 11 daily low maximum temperature records and 7 daily low minimum temperature records.
Overall, the preliminary statewide average March temperature was 47.3 degrees, 5.9 degrees above the 1991–2020 normal, 7.5 degrees above the 20th Century average, 5.3 degrees above the most recent 30-year average, and it tied for 9th warmest March on record going back to 1895.
Wet March Improves Drought
March is the transition month between the normally driest time of the year in the winter and the normally wettest time of the year in Illinois between April and July. Consequently, we have experienced previous years where March was extremely dry (only 1.13 inches in 1981) and those that were very wet (6.30 inches in 1973). This year March was more like the latter than the former, with most of the state experiencing well above average March precipitation.
March total precipitation ranged from around 2.5 inches in northwest Illinois to over 8 inches in parts of east-central Illinois. The entire state was 0.50 inch to 4.5 inches wetter than the 1991-2020 normals last month. The wettest part of the state was right around and slightly south of the Interstate 72 corridor from Springfield to Champaign-Urbana (Figure 4). Last month was the 3rd wettest March on record in Springfield, the 8th wettest in Bloomington-Normal, and the 6th wettest in Aurora.
Overall, the preliminary statewide average total March precipitation was 4.85 inches, 1.91 inches above the 1991–2020 normal, 1.76 inches above the 20th Century average, 1.74 inches above the most recent 30-year average, and the 15th wettest March on record statewide and the wettest March since 1985.
As expected, the wet March weather improved drought conditions that had stretched back to late summer 2025. The U.S. Drought Monitor reduced statewide coverage of all drought categories between March 3rd and March 24th, including 43% less of the state in at least moderate drought and 11% less of the state in extreme drought. Root zone soil moisture improved across the state, relieving some of the risk of early season agricultural drought. However, water table levels remained much deeper than typical for spring and streams also remained somewhat to very low as the calendar moved to April. These issues are lagged effects of the prolonged hydrologic drought in Illinois, and we will need continued wet weather through April and May to see consistent improvement in these conditions.
As is often the case in spring, abundant precipitation also meant abundant severe weather. An active storm track and sufficient humid, warm air moving into the Midwest produced multiple severe weather outbreaks in March. In all, the Storm Prediction Center listed 35 tornado reports in Illinois last month, including an EF3 tornado that moved through parts of Kankakee County on March 10th. That same storm produced widespread gargantuan hail, including several stones reported to be as large as 5-6” in diameter. One of the hailstones that fell in Kankakee on March 10th was measured by scientists at Northern Illinois University with a diameter of 6.616 inches. The current Illinois state hailstone record is 4.75 inches, which fell near Minooka in 2015. However, the State Climate Extremes Committee is currently reviewing the March 10th storm and measured hailstone and will determine if it set a new state record.
This year marked the fourth consecutive March with at least 29 tornado warnings issued by National Weather Service offices serving Illinois. Prior to 2023, only one year (2006) had over 29 warnings issued, illustrating the remarkable stretch of active March severe weather recently (Figure 5).
Following the severe weather outbreaks around March 10th, a short-lived but intense winter storm moved through northern Illinois, producing heavy snow. Snowfall exceeded 8 inches in parts of northern Illinois, especially between Rochelle and Rockford. However, an otherwise warm month left most places without significant snow in March.
April and Early Growing Season Outlooks
Climatological spring starts with March, but most folks associate spring more with April and May, as weather in Illinois begins to consistently feel springlike. April outlooks show better chances of warmer than average temperatures and wetter than normal conditions statewide.
Meanwhile, the outlook for April through June shows best chances of warmer than normal weather for much of Illinois, without a strong signal on precipitation.
