Recent rains ease drought concerns in western and southern Illinois    

[JUNE 16, 2005]  CHAMPAIGN -- "Timely rains over the last week have eased drought concerns in western and southern Illinois," said Jim Angel, state climatologist with the Illinois State Water Survey, a division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. "In the first half of June, measured totals of 2-3 inches in those two areas were common, while radar-estimated rainfall at some locations was even higher. Unfortunately, the rains were less widespread in portions of northern and central Illinois, which generally received less than 2 inches."

Angel continued: "Spring in Illinois this year was exceptionally dry (53 percent of normal and the fourth-driest spring since 1895). That pattern continued during the first seven days of June (41 percent of normal), which also introduced warmer temperatures. Statewide temperatures June 1-7 were 4.5 degrees above normal, and temperatures in the 90s were common. Those conditions also led to signs of moisture stress in corn and soybeans, and the U.S. Drought Monitor declared much of Illinois to be in a "moderate" drought. For June 8-15, however, statewide precipitation was 135 percent of normal (1.55 inches) with temperatures 4.7 degrees above normal. As a result, the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report reduced the extent of moderate drought in Illinois in portions of western and southern Illinois."

Until June, the statewide precipitation pattern has been reminiscent of that in 1988, which was preceded by a wet winter (9.15 inches, compared with 9.01 inches for winter 2004-2005) followed by a dry spring (6.87 inches, compared with 6.02 inches in 2005). The crucial difference is that the warm, dry conditions prevailed throughout June 1988 (1.05 inches), but precipitation has been more favorable this month (1.92 inches as of June 15). National Weather Service forecasts for the rest of June call for below-normal precipitation. This week's cooler temperatures also will revert to warmer ones after the weekend.

"Despite recent rains, precipitation deficits in central and northern Illinois since March 1 remain large, on the order of 5-6 inches below normal, a situation that the ISWS will be monitoring closely," Angel added. "Deficits in both western and southern Illinois are 3-5 inches below normal, still a concern as summer progresses. In 1988, deficits were 5-6 inches below normal across the entire state and much of the Midwest."

A new Illinois State Water Survey Web page provides more information about drought and related topics for Illinois: http://www.sws.uiuc.edu/hilites/drought/.

[Illinois State Water Survey news release]