Hey, NWS – Excellent Precipitation Forecast

I hear the joke about meteorologists all the time – “I wish I got paid for being right only half the time”. Despite the misperception by some, the forecasting skills at the NWS offices are very good. Skills have improved over the years, not only for routine forecasts of temperature and precipitation, but also for critical severe weather. There are still meteorological surprises every once in awhile, but most of the “it came without warning” cases did indeed have warnings associated with them.

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June -Warm, Dry in Illinois

Temperature: June in Illinois ended up being warmer and drier than normal for most of the state. The statewide average temperature was 74.8 degrees, which was 2.9 degrees above normal and the 14th warmest June on record. DuQuoin had the warmest reading of the state when they reached 102 on June 16.

Precipitation: The statewide average rainfall for June was 3.04 inches, 1.17 inches below normal and the 30th driest June on record. However, that doesn’t tell the whole story. Western and southern Illinois were much drier with many locations reporting less than an inch of rainfall. One of the driest totals was at Pittsfield with only 0.13 inches of rain for the entire month. Meanwhile eastern and northern Illinois were much wetter with amounts of 3 to 5 inches common. A few spots were even wetter. For example, the wettest monthly total was Streator with 9.71 inches of rain.

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