 The reasons for the extended period of warm air residing over the
Midwest are complex but basically result from a "blocked" weather
pattern that allowed high pressure at the surface and aloft to set
up across the nation's midsection. Several days of southerly to
southwesterly winds allowed warm air to move into the region, and
plenty of sunshine acting on relatively dry air produced further
warming of the air mass.
While it was very warm, few individual daily records were
established. A record high was tied in Springfield on April 6 at 85
degrees.
The most unusual aspect of this warm stretch is its duration.
Many locations in central and southeast Illinois were more than 10
degrees above normal for 12 of the first 15 days in April, while
several days were more than 20 degrees above normal.
[National Weather Service,
Lincoln office] |
