August: Drought arrives in Illinois

[September 07, 2011]  CHAMPAIGN -- Last month the statewide average precipitation was 2.06 inches, 1.6 inches below average and 56 percent of average. This was the 13th-driest August on record since 1895, based on preliminary data, according to Jim Angel, state climatologist, of the Illinois State Water Survey.

The driest area was south of and parallel to Interstate 74. Rainfall amounts in that region were generally an inch or less. One of the driest spots in Illinois was Lovington -- in Moultrie County, in east-central Illinois -- with only 0.03 inches for the entire month. Other sites with extremely low readings were Decatur with 0.15 inches, Springfield with 0.25 inches and Quincy with 0.25 inches.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, moderate to severe agricultural drought arrived in Illinois in August. This was the result of significantly less than average rainfall in July and August, as well as warmer than average temperatures. Damage to corn and soybean crops appears to be significant in places. However, the full extent of the damage will not be known until harvest.

Only northern Illinois received average to above average rainfall in August. One of the wettest spots in Illinois was Morris, in Grundy County, with 7.02 inches, followed closely by Earlville, in LaSalle County, with 7.01 inches.

Temperatures were above average for much of Illinois. Highs in the 90s and even low 100s were common across the state. The hottest spots in the state were Cairo, with 103 degrees on Aug. 4, and Bentley, with 103 degrees on Aug. 25. Both Quincy and Grand Chain Dam were close, with 102 degrees on Aug. 2 and Aug. 4, respectively.

The statewide mean temperature -- an average of the high and low temperatures -- was 74.9 degrees, 1.2 degrees above average.

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

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