Illinois State Water Survey Illinois State Climatologist

Staying Ahead of Intense Precipitation in Illinois

The Prairie State is no stranger to intense precipitation and consequential flooding. However, the frequency and intensity of rainfall have been increasing in recent decades, putting a renewed focus on the information, warning systems, planning and preparation needed to protect Illinois from the threat of intense rainfall. Intense Rainfall Background The philosopher Luke Bryan argued, […]

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The Dry April That Wasn’t

April ended colder and wetter than average across the state. The preliminary statewide average April temperature was 49.2 degrees, 3.4 degrees below the 30-year normal and tied for the 27th coldest on record going back to 1895. The preliminary statewide average total April precipitation was 4.36 inches, 0.58 inches above than the 30-year normal and […]

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May 2019: Exceptionally Wet and Stormy Across Illinois

May 2019 will be a month remembered for exceptional, record-breaking wet conditions locally, as well as an active, stormy, and at times severe weather pattern across the state. Preliminary data suggest that May 2019 finished significantly wetter than average, with temperatures marginally below the long-term average. The preliminary average statewide May temperature was 62.5°F, which is 0.2°F below the […]

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