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Wet, cool July
atypical
for Illinois
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[AUG. 8, 2003]
"We
don't usually associate lots of rainfall and mild temperatures with
July in Illinois, and yet that's exactly the kind of weather we just
had during the 11th wettest and 34th coldest July since 1895," says
Jim Angel, state climatologist with the
Illinois State Water Survey, a
division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
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"The good news is that with
both June and July being cooler than normal, the number of days at
or above 90 degrees has been about half of what usually occurs
through the end of July. Chicago and Rockford only had five such
days instead of their normal 12 and 10 days, Springfield had nine
instead of 19 days, and Carbondale had 12 instead of 21 days," says
Angel.
July rainfall was 147 percent
of normal, 5.62 inches statewide, and temperatures averaged 74.8
degrees, a degree below normal. Rainfall was especially copious in
central and northern Illinois (164 and 162 percent of normal,
respectively) and was 85 percent of normal in southern Illinois.
"When combined with similar weather in June, we've had 10.42 inches
of rainfall (126 percent of normal) and temperatures of 70.6 degrees
(2.4 degrees below average), making summer (so far) the 15th wettest
and fifth coldest since 1895," says Angel.
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column in this article]
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Based on preliminary data,
Romeoville reported the highest monthly rainfall total for July, at
11.94 inches. Thirteen Illinois sites reported monthly totals in
excess of 8 inches, including Park Forest (10.21 inches) and one of
two Urbana sites (10.13 inches).
The
National Weather Service outlook for August and the rest of the
growing season does not indicate an increased likelihood of above or
below normal temperatures and precipitation. "Historically, a cool
June-July leads to an increased chance of normal to above normal
precipitation and below normal temperatures in August-September,"
says Angel.
[Illinois
State Water Survey press release]
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