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Wet
weekend washes away
August dry spell in Illinois
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[SEPT. 4, 2003]
"Even
though the first 28 days of August were very dry, with only 1.53
inches of rainfall statewide (46 percent of normal), August still
ranked as the 27th wettest on record in Illinois since 1895, with
4.29 inches of rainfall (114 percent of normal)," said Jim Angel,
state climatologist with the
Illinois State Water Survey, a division of the Illinois
Department of Natural Resources. "Until widespread rains over Labor
Day weekend, August was on track to being the third driest August on
record."
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According to Angel, Labor Day weekend
rainfall totals were 4-6 inches in central Illinois and portions of
southern Illinois, 1-3 inches over the rest of southern Illinois,
and less than an inch in northern Illinois (north of I-80). With
only 1.96 inches of rainfall all month (44 percent of normal),
northwestern Illinois had its 16th driest August since 1895.
"This was the 22nd warmest August since
1895, with temperatures averaging 75 degrees across Illinois, 1.4
degrees above normal. Several locations reported temperatures at or
above 100 degrees, including the high of 104 degrees at Grand Tower
on Aug. 18. Park Forest reported a low of 48 degrees on Aug. 29,"
Angel said.
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"June-August 2003 was the 15th wettest
summer in Illinois since 1895, with precipitation averaging 13.69
inches, 2.03 inches above normal (117 percent of normal).
Temperatures statewide during this period averaged 72.7 degrees, a
degree below average, and ranked as the 22nd coolest summer since
1895," he said.
The National
Weather Service outlook for September and fall is neutral: no
additional chance of above or below normal temperatures and
precipitation. "Historically, a cool summer leads to an increased
likelihood of below normal fall temperatures," Angel said.
[Illinois
State Water Survey news release] |
