2005 was warm, dry year      

[JAN. 16, 2006]  CHAMPAIGN -- "Preliminary data for Illinois indicate 2005 was the 11th driest and 12th warmest year since 1895," said Jim Angel, state climatologist with the Illinois State Water Survey, a division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Precipitation in 2005 averaged only 31.48 inches, 7.75 inches below normal, compared with 26.32 inches in 1901, the driest year on record. Statewide temperatures in 2005 averaged 53.8 degrees F, 2.1 degrees above normal, compared with 55.6 degrees in 1921, the warmest year on record.

Temperature extremes during 2005 ranged from 107 at Monmouth on July 25 to 17 below at Mount Carroll on Dec. 19.

"After a very cold start to December, even temperatures much above normal the last 10 days of 2005 didn't warm up the statistics," Angel said. Statewide, December temperatures were the 24th coldest on record and averaged 26.7 degrees, 3.1 degrees below normal. Precipitation averaged 1.23 inches, 1.51 inches below normal, the 17th driest December since 1895.

December temperature extremes ranged from 17 below at Mount Carroll on Dec. 19 to 64 degrees at Carbondale on Dec. 28.

"The National Weather Service forecast shows an increased chance of warmer-than-average temperatures for January and for January-March," Angel said. "Historically, this is not surprising because January and February are usually mild after a cold December.

"Don't expect too much relief of drought concerns in January and February either," he said. "Typically they are Illinois' two driest months, with precipitation averaging 2 inches each month, compared to a monthly average of 4 inches during the growing season."

[Illinois State Water Survey news release]

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