Illinoisans Experience Springlike Weather in January

[January 11, 2008]  CHAMPAIGN -- On Monday, winter weather gave way to springlike conditions with record-breaking warmth, heavy rains and severe weather across Illinois. Record high temperatures were set at several locations, including Peoria (67 degrees), Chicago (65 degrees) and Champaign (67 degrees), according to State Climatologist Jim Angel of the Illinois State Water Survey, a division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

During the afternoon and evening hours, severe thunderstorms moved through central and northern Illinois, producing hail, damaging winds, localized flooding and tornadoes. Preliminary reports indicated that tornadoes appeared in Boone and McHenry counties in northern Illinois and in Mason and Tazewell counties in central Illinois.

Rainfall amounts were heavy as well, with reports of 2 to 5 inches in a wide band from western Illinois between St. Louis and Quincy northeastward to eastern Illinois between Danville and the southern suburbs of Chicago.

"This severe weather follows a December that was wet across much of Illinois," Angel said. "As a result, the heavy rains caused flooding of fields, roads and rivers."

Statewide, December rainfall averaged 4.08 inches, which is 1.39 inches above normal. Heaviest rains were in southern Illinois, where several sites reported monthly totals of more than 6 inches, including 10.4 inches at Smithland. Statewide temperatures in December averaged 29.8 degrees, right at normal.

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December snowfall was above normal across much of central and northern Illinois. Amounts ranged from close to zero in far southern Illinois to more than 16 inches in northern Illinois. Heaviest amounts were along the Illinois-Wisconsin border, with Antioch reporting 23.7 inches and Galena reporting 22.4 inches for the month of December.

The National Weather Service outlooks for January and January-March call for temperatures and precipitation above normal.

"We should see a return to more seasonable temperatures with more snow and less rain in the coming week. So, our springlike weather was short-lived," concluded Angel.

Disclaimer: Data used for all statistics provided herein are from the Midwestern Regional Climate Center and are based on preliminary data.

[Text from file received from the Illinois State Water Survey]