January in Illinois: Wet conditions despite the lack of snow
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[February 06, 2013]
CHAMPAIGN -- Snowfall was below average
in January, but the statewide precipitation -- including both rain
and melted snow -- was 3.9 inches, nearly 2 inches above average,
according to Jim Angel, state climatologist with the Illinois State
Water Survey at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
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Precipitation for most of the state was in the 3- to 6-inch range except for
some drier areas in central and western Illinois. It was wettest in southeastern
Illinois, with several sites receiving over 6 inches of precipitation, including
Smithland Lock and Dam on the Ohio River with 9.7 inches.
Snowfall for January was below average and ranged from 6.5 inches in the
northwest corner to zero in far southern Illinois.
Even though January finished with below-average snowfall, it was offset with
above-average rainfall in many areas. As a result, the U.S. Drought Monitor has
reduced the area in drought or abnormally dry conditions since Jan. 1 by 11
percent.
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The statewide temperature for January was 28.7 degrees, four degrees
above average. It was far short of the warmest January on record,
which was in 2006 with 37.9 degrees, followed closely by 1933 with
37.7 degrees.
[Text from file received from
the Illinois
State Water Survey] |