October: warm and dry in Illinois

[November 04, 2010]  CHAMPAIGN -- The statewide average rainfall for October was 1.4 inches, 1.5 inches below normal. This ranks as the 20th-driest October on record, according to Jim Angel, state climatologist, of the Illinois State Water Survey.

The largest monthly rainfall total was reported at Belvidere with 3.94 inches. While northern Illinois was close to normal on rainfall in October, parts of southern and eastern Illinois remained dry. The U.S. Drought Monitor lists those areas as "abnormally dry" and southeastern Illinois as "moderate drought."

The main effects of dry weather on agriculture at this time of year would be on pasture conditions and winter wheat. With the vegetation preparing for winter and lower temperatures, the demands on soil moisture are close to zero. So soil moisture should start to recover in the next few months even if precipitation remains below normal.

The statewide average temperature for October was 56.2 degrees, 1.6 degrees above normal. The highest temperature for the month was reported at Fairfield with 93 degrees on Oct. 10. The lowest temperature for the month was reported at Minonk with 22 degrees on Oct. 29 and at Sidell with 22 degrees on Oct. 30.

The National Weather Service temperature outlook for November includes increased odds of warmer-than-normal conditions across Illinois. The precipitation outlook includes increased odds of drier-than-normal conditions in southwestern Illinois, with neutral odds in the rest of the state.

The outlook for November through January includes increased odds of warmer-than-normal conditions in Illinois. The same outlook is neutral on precipitation for Illinois, except for the Wabash River valley, which has an increased chance of above-normal precipitation.

___

The Illinois State Water Survey, at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is a division of the Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability and is the primary agency in Illinois concerned with water and atmospheric resources.

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