Illinois State Water Survey Illinois State Climatologist

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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2025 Was Warm and Dry in Illinois

Illinois was both warmer and wetter than the 1991–2020 normal in 2025. The statewide average annual temperature was 53.6 degrees, 1.0 degree above normal and the 18th warmest year on record statewide. Statewide average total precipitation in 2025 was 32.94 inches, 7.8 inches below normal and the 23rd driest year on record statewide. Another Very […]

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Mild May Wraps Up an Otherwise Warm Spring in Illinois

The preliminary statewide average May temperature was 63.0 degrees, 0.2 degrees below the 1991–2020 average and the 58th warmest on record going back to 1895. The preliminary statewide average total May precipitation was 3.75 inches, 1.02 inches below the 1991–2020 average and the 55th driest on record statewide.     Data are provisional and may change […]

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Rivers Have No Effect on Tornado Tracks

The Kansas City NWS office posted this image showing that rivers have no measurable effect on tornado tracks. The case for St. Louis reminded me that one of the worst tornado disasters in US history occurred when a tornado tracked through St. Louis, jumped the Mississippi River, and continued doing damage in East St. Louis. […]

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