Near-normal August after hot, dry summer for Illinois

[September 06, 2012]  CHAMPAIGN -- After months of exceptionally warm temperatures and drought, Illinois finally experienced temperatures and precipitation closer to normal in August, according to Jim Angel, state climatologist at the Illinois State Water Survey, University of Illinois.

The statewide average temperature for August was 73.5 degrees, just 0.1 degree below normal.

The statewide average precipitation for August was 3.4 inches, which is 95 percent of normal. Northern and southern parts of Illinois had 3 to 5 inches of rain, while the east-central areas had more than 6 inches. Parts of northern and western Illinois received less than 2.5 inches.

The largest rainfall total in the state was at Grayville in southeast Illinois with 10.69 inches. In second place was Hoopeston with 8.33 inches.

The statewide average temperature for the three summer months of June, July and August was 76.1 degrees, 2.6 degrees above normal. It was the eighth-warmest summer on record in Illinois. The warmest was 1936 with 78.6 degrees.

The statewide average precipitation for June-August was 6.64 inches, 5.21 inches below normal. It was the sixth-driest summer on record in Illinois. The driest was 1988 with 6.17 inches.

The statewide average temperature for January-August was 59.0 degrees, 4.2 degrees above normal. It was the warmest January-August on record in Illinois. The second-warmest was 1921 with 58.3 degrees.

The statewide average precipitation for January-August was 17.45 inches, 7.31 inches below normal. It was the fourth-driest January-August on record in Illinois. The driest was 1936 with 14.95 inches, followed by 1988 with 17.12 inches and 1934 with 17.41 inches.

"At the end of August, 99 percent of the state was still in some stage of drought. However, the milder August weather kept many areas from getting significantly worse," Angel concluded.

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