Tropical Storm Isaac dropped a lot of rain on Illinois over the Labor Day weekend. As noted in an earlier post, tropical storms are rare in Illinois but they do happen. However, this one was especially interesting because the heavy rains fell over areas in drought across the state. In a normal year, such heavy […]
On Thursday, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center released their outlooks for September and the 3-month period of September – November. For Illinois, they foresee an increased risk of above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation in September. Also, they foresee an increased risk of above-normal temperatures for September – November. They are taking a neutral stand on fall […]
Based on preliminary numbers, the statewide average temperature for September in Illinois was 63.2 degrees, 3 degrees below average. That makes it the 13th coolest September on record for Illinois. The coolest September was 1918 with 59.3 degrees. Statewide records go back to 1895. Despite the overall cool readings for the month, Labor Day weekend […]
The U.S. Drought Monitor has reduced the area in drought for Illinois (first map below). Generous rainfall in recent weeks (second map) along the northern and southern borders of the drought led to the reductions. It also helps that cooler temperatures and maturing field crops have reduced the demand on soil moisture. Soil moisture measurements […]