The wetter and warmer than normal weather continued in Illinois this week. For the period of June 16-22, the state average temperature was 76.8 degrees, 3.6 degrees above normal. Meanwhile the statewide average precipitation was 2.46 inches, 1.55 inches above normal.
Illinois already experienced above normal temperature and precipitation in the first half of June. Combined with this week’s weather, the statewide average temperature for June so far is 74.5 degrees, 3.4 degrees above normal. The statewide average precipitation at this point is 6.35 inches, 3.37 inches above normal.
If you are thinking that we must be closing in on a record, you are correct. Statewide this is already the 10th wettest June on record. The wettest June on record is 1902 with 8.37 inches. Several individual station records will be set as well. For example, Galesburg has already received 11.25 inches this month. This handily beat the old June record of 9.97 inches set in 1974. This is impressive given that their records go back to 1927.
The wettest areas of the state are western Illinois and east-central Illinois. Based on radar estimates and reports from weather observers, monthly totals of 9 inches or more were common in these areas. The wettest spot so far is Warsaw (Hancock County CoCoRaHS observer) which has reported 11.38 inches through today (June 22) with more rain falling after the regular reporting time.
Here are the precipitation and precipitation departure maps for June 1-22, 2010, for Illinois.
First Half of June – Warm and Wet
Based on preliminary data, the statewide average temperature for the first half of June was 73.4 degrees, 3.3 degrees above normal.
The statewide average rainfall for the first half of June was 3.85 inches, 1.78 inches above normal. Much of the southern and northern thirds of the state were near normal while central Illinois was much above normal.
The wettest areas are in a region between Quincy and the Quad Cities (again) and in east-central Illinois. For June 1-15, the following rainfall totals were reported: Moline with 4.35 inches, Quincy with 4.78 inches, Springfield with 3.85 inches, Champaign with 4.88 inches , and a CoCoRaHS observer in Sidney (SE of Champaign) with 7.84 inches.
The National Weather Service provides a high-resolution precipitation product that combines both rain gauge and radar data. It can be found at http://water.weather.gov/precip/. Here is the rainfall departure map for June 1-15, 2010, clearly showing the heavy rain areas in western and east-central Illinois.
More rains are falling in Illinois while this is being written on the afternoon of June 15.
June 5 Tornado Outbreak in Illinois
A large tornado outbreak occurred in Illinois on June 5. The NOAA Storm Prediction Center has 31 preliminary damage reports for the state (see below). In some cases a single tornado generated multiple damage reports as it moves cross-country. At this time there appears to have been 15 confirmed tornadoes involved.
NWS offices conducted extensive damage surveys in central and northern Illinois the next day. Here are their findings:
- Seven confirmed tornadoes in central Illinois (Lincoln NWS office)
- One confirmed tornado in northwest Illinois (Davenport NWS office)
- Seven confirmed tornadoes in northeastern Illinois (Chicago NWS office)
Time | Location | County | State | Lat | Lon | Comments | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0035 | 3 NE ABINGDON | KNOX | IL | 4083 | 9036 | BRIEF TOUCHDOWN. NO DAMAGE REPORTED AT THIS TIME.(ILX) | |
0103 | YATES CITY | KNOX | IL | 4078 | 9001 | POWER LINES DOWN. (ILX) | |
0106 | ELMWOOD | PEORIA | IL | 4078 | 8997 | TORNADO ENTERING ELMWOOD. NO DAMAGE REPORTS AT THIS TIME. (ILX) | |
0110 | 1 E HENRY | PUTNAM | IL | 4111 | 8934 | FIRST TOUCHDOWN OF TORNADO AT EDGE OF SAWMILL LAKE.(DVN) | |
0114 | 2 S BRIMFIELD | PEORIA | IL | 4081 | 8988 | TORNADO JUST SOUTH OF ROUTE 8. (ILX) | |
0120 | 7 E HENRY | PUTNAM | IL | 4111 | 8923 | RELAYED VIA LINCOLN NWS(DVN) | |
0125 | PEORIA | PEORIA | IL | 4074 | 8961 | TORNADO 4 MILES NORTHWEST OF THE PEORIA AIRPORT.(ILX) | |
0130 | PEORIA | PEORIA | IL | 4074 | 8961 | TORNADO AT ROUTE 150 AND INTERSTATE 74. (ILX) | |
0130 | 3 W LOSTANT | LA SALLE | IL | 4114 | 8912 | HOMES BADLY DAMAGED AND TREES DOWN. (LOT) | |
0131 | 7 W PEORIA | PEORIA | IL | 4074 | 8974 | TORNADO AT HWY 116. (ILX) | |
0133 | MAGNOLIA | PUTNAM | IL | 4111 | 8920 | REPORTED BETWEEN MAGNOLIA AND MC NABB MOVING EAST(DVN) | |
0141 | 2 S LOSTANT | LA SALLE | IL | 4111 | 8906 | NEAR INTERSECTION OF RT 18 AND INTERSTATE 39. (LOT) | |
0143 | EAST PEORIA | TAZEWELL | IL | 4067 | 8955 | TORNADO AT ROUTE 24 NEAR THE ILLINOIS RIVER. (ILX) | |
0145 | 2 W STREATOR | LA SALLE | IL | 4113 | 8887 | NO SIGHTING OF TORNADO BUT DAMAGE SEEN. BARNS AND SILOS BLOWN OVER. DAMAGE TO ROOFS. SHEET METAL WRAPPED AROUND POLES. (LOT) | |
0150 | STREATOR | LA SALLE | IL | 4113 | 8883 | 2 TORNADOES ON THE GROUND. ONE WAS DUE WEST OF STREATOR. THE OTHER WAS 1 MILES WEST OF STREATOR AND WAS REPORTED 50 FEET WIDE.(LOT) | |
0153 | 2 S GERMANTOWN HILLS | TAZEWELL | IL | 4074 | 8947 | TORNADO AT ROUTE 116 JUST SOUTH OF ISP. (ILX) | |
0159 | 6 E STREATOR | LA SALLE | IL | 4113 | 8872 | (LOT) | |
0211 | STREATOR | LA SALLE | IL | 4113 | 8883 | HEAVY DAMAGE IN STREATOR. PEOPLE TRAPPED IN HOMES AND TELEPHONE OUTAGES. (LOT) | |
0218 | 8 W DWIGHT | LIVINGSTON | IL | 4110 | 8858 | 2 MILES E OF RT 170 ALONG RT. 17 (LOT) | |
0226 | DWIGHT | LIVINGSTON | IL | 4110 | 8842 | STATE POLICE CONFIRMED TORNADO JUST WEST OF INTERSTATE 55 AND SOUTH OF RT. 17 (LOT) | |
0234 | 3 E DWIGHT | LIVINGSTON | IL | 4110 | 8837 | ILLINOIS STATE POLICE ARE FOLLOWING A TORNADO ON THE GROUND 3 MILES EAST OF DWIGHT AND 1 MILE SOUTH OF STATE HIGHWAY 17. (LOT) | |
0239 | DWIGHT | LIVINGSTON | IL | 4110 | 8842 | HEAVY DAMAGE SOUTH PART OF TOWN. REPORTED BY FIRE DEPARTMENT (LOT) | |
0247 | 1 NW BUCKINGHAM | KANKAKEE | IL | 4106 | 8819 | 17000W AND RT 115. TORNADO JUST DISSIPATED (LOT) | |
0256 | LOSTANT | LA SALLE | IL | 4114 | 8906 | DELAYED REPORT. ON I-39 JUST SOUTH OF LOSTANT … SEMIS BLOWN OFF I-39 EAST INTO CORNFIELD. SEMIS WERE ESTIMATED AT SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET INTO CORNFIELD. (LOT) | |
0301 | 2 E HERSCHER | KANKAKEE | IL | 4105 | 8806 | ON RT 115. SPOTTER REPORTS TORNADO KEEPS TOUCHING DOWN AND LIFTING. (LOT) | |
0309 | 6 NE FAIRBURY | LIVINGSTON | IL | 4080 | 8843 | CORN WAS TWISTED IN A FIELD AND VENTS WERE TORN OFF A BARN ROOF. (LOT) | |
0313 | 5 SW CULLOM | LIVINGSTON | IL | 4084 | 8834 | (LOT) | |
0315 | 1 SE HOPEDALE | TAZEWELL | IL | 4041 | 8940 | TORNADO AT HOPEDALE ROAD AND OLYMPIA ROAD MOVING EAST. (ILX) | |
0323 | 2 N ST. ANNE | KANKAKEE | IL | 4105 | 8772 | 2 TORNADOS ON GROUND. (LOT) | |
0355 | ST. ANNE | KANKAKEE | IL | 4102 | 8772 | HOUSE DESTROYED AT INTERSECTION 3795S AND 6000E (LOT) | |
0400 | 2 SW BEASON | LOGAN | IL | 4013 | 8923 | TWO HOMES SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE. (ILX) |
Fourth Warmest Spring in Illinois
Based on preliminary data, the statewide average temperature for spring in Illinois was 55.3 degrees, 3.3 degrees above normal and the fourth warmest spring on record. Warmer than normal conditions prevailed in the spring months of March (+2.5 degrees), April (+6.2 degrees), and May (+1.3 degrees).
The statewide average precipitation for spring was 11.97 inches, just 0.7 inches above normal. This is notably less than the 15.83 inches that fell in the spring of 2009 and the 14.21 inches that fell in the spring of 2008.
Climatologists and meteorologists tend to use the calendar months of March-May to define spring and not the astronomical definition from the vernal equinox (usually March 20) to the summer solstice (usually June 21). The calendar months better match the climate of Illinois. Our winter weather usually diminishes by early to mid March across much of Illinois and summer weather usually arrives long before June 21.