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Soil temperatures at 4 inches under sod
averaged 57 degrees on Oct. 16, 2 degrees below the long-term
average for mid-October. Temperatures have been steadily falling
throughout the month, dropping 18 degrees since Oct. 1. Daily
highs have ranged from the mid 50s to low 60s.
Temperatures were slightly cooler under bare soil with a
statewide average of 53 degrees on Oct. 16, a decline of 24
degrees from the beginning of the month. Daily lows were in the
40s and low 50s.
Soil moisture, on average, has changed little the first half of
October, increasing only 2 percent at depths of 2 inches between
Oct. 1 and Oct. 16. However the average hides the larger changes
seen in the various regions. Moisture levels declined in
northern and central Illinois from 8 percent to 17 percent while
the south saw an increase of 44 percent due to increased rains
in the region. Similar patterns occurred at depths of 4 to 20
inches.
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 and in the Illinois Water and Climate Summary.
[TRISH BARKER
Associate Director for Strategic Communications
Prairie Research Institute
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign]
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