[NOV. 4, 2005] CHAMPAIGN -- "Preliminary data
for October indicate that rainfall averaged 1.26 inches -- 1.61
inches below normal -- failing to relieve drought conditions across
central and northern Illinois,"
said Jim
Angel, state climatologist with the
Illinois State Water Survey, a
division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Rainfall since March statewide averaged 19.69 inches -- 9.53
inches below normal and Illinois' fourth-driest March-October since
1895. It was also the driest March-October on record in northeastern
Illinois, which had only 15.79 inches since March -- 12.65 inches
below normal. Tuscola had the highest one-day precipitation total,
2.50 inches on Oct. 21; and Windsor had the highest monthly total,
3.52 inches.
Across the state, rainfall has been below normal since March 1.
For example, Chicago O'Hare Airport received only 14.2 inches, which
is 13.2 inches below normal; Rockford had 13.9 inches, 15.3 inches
below normal; Moline, 12.0 inches, 18 inches below normal; Peoria,
14.7 inches, 12.8 inches below normal; Quincy, 17.6 inches, 11.6
inches below normal; Springfield, 19 inches, 7.7 inches below
normal; Champaign, 22.6 inches, 8.3 inches below normal; and
Carbondale, 22.6 inches, 7.2 inches below normal.
October temperatures averaged 55.5 degrees F statewide -- 0.8
degrees above normal. This also is the fifth consecutive month of
temperatures above normal and the 10th-warmest June-October on
record. Extremes ranged from 92 degrees at Hutsonville on Oct. 5 to
20 degrees at Mount Carroll on Oct. 28.
"The National Weather Service's November outlook calls for an
increased chance of temperatures above normal but is noncommittal
about precipitation," said Angel. "Their winter prediction also is
noncommittal about precipitation and temperatures for Illinois. Last
winter both temperatures and precipitation were above normal in
Illinois, by 3.3 degrees and 2.24 inches, respectively."
