August Near-Normal But Summer Hot, Dry for Illinois

August

After months of exceptionally warm temperatures and drought, Illinois finally experienced temperatures and precipitation closer to normal in August.
The statewide average temperature for August was 73.5 degrees, just 0.1 degree below normal. That’s about as “normal” as you can get.
The statewide average precipitation for August was 3.4 inches, which is 95 percent of normal. In the map below, areas in yellow and orange had 3 to 5 inches, while the areas in red had more than 6 inches. Areas in northern and western Illinois in green received less than 2.5 inches. The largest rainfall total in the state was at Grayville in southeast Illinois with 10.69 inches. In second place was Hoopeston with 8.33 inches.

Summer

The statewide average temperature for the three summer months of June, July, and August was 76.1 degrees, 2.6 degrees above normal. It was the eighth warmest summer on record in Illinois. The warmest was 1936 at 78.6 degrees.
The statewide average precipitation for June-August was 6.64 inches, 5.21 inches below normal. It was the sixth driest summer on record in Illinois. The driest was 1988 with 6.17 inches.

Year to Date

The statewide average temperature for January-August was 59.0 degrees, 4.2 degrees above normal. It was the warmest January-August on record in Illinois. The second warmest was 1921 with 58.3 degrees.
The statewide average precipitation for January-August was 17.45 inches, 7.31 inches below normal. It was the fourth driest January-August on record in Illinois. The driest was 1936 with 14.95 inches, followed by 1988 with 17.12 inches, and 1934 with 17.41 inches.