Soils Across Illinois Damp at the End of September

[September 29, 2014]  CHAMPAIGN - Soils are damp across the state at the end of September, according to Jennie Atkins, Water and Atmospheric Resources Manager at the Illinois State Water Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois.

Soil moisture levels at 2 inches average 0.29 water fraction by volume (wfv) across Illinois, slightly below the field capacity for most of the soil types measured. The highest levels were in east central Illinois, which averaged an inch of rain in the week of September 15.

Conditions remain wet at depths of 20 inches and greater. Soil moisture at these depths averaged at or greater than the field capacity.

Soil temperatures at the end of the month were slightly below the monthly normal, averaging 65.9 degrees F at 4 inches and 65.4 degrees at 8 inches. The highest temperatures occurred in southern Illinois where soil temperatures were 2 to 3 degrees above the statewide average.

The Illinois State Water Survey’s WARM Program collects hourly and daily weather and soil information at 19 stations across the state. Daily and monthly summaries can be found at the WARM website http://www.isws.illinois.
edu/warm/  and in the Illinois Water and Climate Summary http://www.isws.illinois.edu/warm
/climate.asp 

Maps of soil temperatures and moisture levels can also be found at the WARM website.

[Lisa Sheppard, Illinois Water Survey, University of Illinois]