Illinois State Water Survey Illinois State Climatologist

Illinois Severe Weather Update

In 2026, Illinois has set a new annual record number of tornadoes (by July), set a new state hailstone record, and withstood flash floods, derechos, and seemingly everything in between — and it’s only September! Let’s review some of the severe weather in Illinois this year so far. Record Tornadoes Tornado outbreaks are days in […]

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A Wild Weather August Capped off an Equally Wild Summer

The preliminary statewide average August temperature was 74.5 degrees, 0.9 degrees above 1991-2020 average, 1.1 degrees above the 20th century average, 0.8 degrees above the most recent 30-year average, and the 41st warmest August on record going back to 1895. The preliminary statewide average total August precipitation was 5.69 inches, 2.13 inches above the 1991-2020 […]

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April in Illinois Was Warm, Wet, & Wild

The preliminary statewide average April temperature was 58.8 degrees, 6.2 degrees above the 1991–2020 normal, 7.3 degrees above the 20th Century average, 6.0 degrees above the most recent 30-year average. Last month was the warmest April on record in Illinois. The preliminary statewide total April precipitation was 6.37 inches, 2.13 inches above the 1991–2020 normal, […]

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Spring Begins with a Very Warm and Wet March

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 […]

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