The U.S. Drought Monitor had introduced D1 “moderate drought” into central Illinois. This is based primarily on very low rainfall totals of less than an inch in the last 30 days in this region, combined with temperatures that were 4 to 5 degrees above normal. The Illinois Ag Statistics Service note that the topsoil moisture was “very short” in:
- the West Crop Reporting District (CRD) at 38%
- the Central (CRD) at 14%
- the East (CRD) at 51%
