December plunges Illinois into deep freeze         

[DEC. 23, 2005]  CHAMPAIGN -- "Preliminary data for December in Illinois to date indicate it's the second-coldest start to December on record, with an average statewide temperature departure 10.6 degrees below normal," said Jim Angel, state climatologist with the Illinois State Water Survey, a division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. "Only the first 20 days of December 1989 were colder, with a departure of 12.8 degrees below normal. Statewide, precipitation for December is 43 percent of normal -- 0.77 inches -- thus far, but snowfall is above normal, with totals of 10-16 inches in northern Illinois, 6-10 inches in central Illinois and 2-6 inches in southern Illinois."

While December has been cold and dry, November was warm and moderately wet. Statewide, November temperatures averaged 43.9 degrees F, which is 2.1 degrees above normal, and precipitation averaged 3.83 inches, or 0.51 inches above normal. November was the sixth consecutive month with temperatures above normal, and June-November 2005 was the third-warmest such period on record. Temperature extremes ranged from 82 degrees on Nov. 9 at Cairo to 6 degrees at Mount Carroll on Nov. 17.

With more of December yet to come, preliminary numbers indicate temperatures 1.3 degrees above normal and precipitation 6.47 inches below normal in Illinois during 2005. Northern and central Illinois are still in moderate to extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor: http://drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html.

"Based on 1971-2000 historical data, chances of a white Christmas are least likely in southern Illinois, 10-30 percent; a little better across central Illinois, 30-40 percent; and best in northern Illinois, 40-60 percent," Angel said. "As always, holiday shoppers and travelers should stay abreast of weather conditions."

[Illinois State Water Survey news release provided by Eva Kingston, editor]

---