Based on preliminary data, July was both cooler and wetter than average for Illinois.
Temperature
The statewide average temperature in July was 74.4 degrees, 0.9 degrees below average. That is not nearly as cool as our record-setting July 2014 when the average temperature was only 70.3 degrees (5.0 degrees below average). On the extreme other end, July 2012 was 81.8 degrees (6.5 degrees above average and the 2nd warmest on record). More on July temperature trends in another post.
Precipitation
The statewide precipitation for July in Illinois was 5.22 inches, 1.17 inches above average. However, that precipitation was not evenly distributed. Areas around Quincy, Kankakee, Bloomington, and south of Carbondale all received amounts in excess of 8 to 12 inches. The largest monthly totals so far include Winchester (IL-ST-1) with 14.40 inches, White Hall (NWS-COOP) with 12.63 inches, and Sheldon (IL-IR-9) with 12.16 inches.
Meanwhile, there were a few dry spots, including the northwest corner of the state and a large swath on either side of Interstate 57 between Champaign and Marion. These can be seen more clearly in the map below in shades of yellow and orange.
