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"To put those numbers into perspective, Flora reported 5.64 inches,
the heaviest one-day rainfall, while Park Forest reported 9.38
inches, the largest monthly total," said Jim Angel, state
climatologist with the Illinois
State Water Survey, a division of the Illinois Department of
Natural Resources. "As we all know, summer rainfall can be highly
variable. For example, this month O'Hare Airport at Chicago reported
2.95 inches, while nearby Midway Airport reported 7.12 inches."
August's statewide average temperature was 74.7 degrees, 1.1
degree above normal and the 34th-warmest August on record.
Temperature extremes ranged from 102 at Kaskaskia on Aug. 3 to 45 at
Mount Carroll on Aug. 16.
According to the state climatologist, summer (June-August) temperatures
statewide averaged 74.5 degrees, 0.7 degrees above normal;
precipitation averaged 12.25 inches, 0.69 inches above normal; and
there was a near-normal occurrence of days above 90 degrees. "This
summer could be characterized as very moderate," he said.
[to top of second column]
 |
 Year-to-date precipitation for 2006 averaged 28.01 inches, 1.32
inches above normal. Year-to-date temperatures averaged 56.8
degrees, 2.5 degrees above normal and the second-warmest such period
since 1895.
The National Weather Service outlook for September calls for
equal chances of both temperature and precipitation being above,
below or at normal. The September-October outlook indicates an
increased chance of temperatures above normal and precipitation
below normal. The outlook for this winter, December-February, calls
for an increased chance of temperatures above normal and equal
chances of precipitation below, above or at normal.
"In any event, most of Illinois has avoided drought this year, so
we can expect to see more vibrant fall colors this year," Angel
said.
[Illinois
State Water Survey news release] |
