November Summary
The preliminary numbers are in for Illinois and November was slightly cooler and drier than normal.
The statewide average temperature for November was 41.7 degrees, 0.8 degrees below normal. The warmest reading in the state was 79 degrees at Belleville on November 2. The coldest reading in the state was 11 degrees at Stockton on November 24.
The statewide average precipitation was 2.13 inches, 1.34 inches below normal. The largest precipitation amount was 5.60 inches at Paxton. Some snow was reported in northern and central Illinois. The largest snowfall amount was 1.5 inches at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Fall (September-November)
For the traditional fall months of September through November, the statewide average temperature was 56.2 degrees, 1.8 degrees above normal and the 15th warmest fall on record.
The statewide average precipitation for fall was 7.72 inches, which is 2.22 inches below normal. Dry conditions near St. Louis have resulted in the US Drought Monitor calling for moderate drought (D1) to severe drought (D2) from Randolph to Calhoun Counties (see map at end of post).
MAPS
Precipitation for November
Here are the precipitation maps for November, accumulated amounts on the first map, departures from normal on the second map. In general, more precipitation fell in eastern and southern Illinois (2 to 4-inch totals were common), than in western and northern (totals less than 2 inches were common). By the way, precipitation represents both the rainfall and the water content of any snowfall.
Snowfall for November
Parts of northern and central Illinois received snow in November; however, the amounts were generally less than an inch. As mentioned earlier, the Chicago Botanic Garden near the shores of Lake Michigan received 1.5 inches for the month.
Temperature Departures for November
Illinois experienced wide swings in temperature in November. In the end, the colder-than-normal and warmer-than-normal days nearly canceled each other out, leaving us just 0.8 degrees below normal for the month. Northern Illinois ended up 1 to 2 degrees below normal (shades of green) while the area around St. Louis was 1 to 2 degrees above normal. These warmer-than-normal temperatures coincided with the area with little precipitation in November.
US Drought Monitor
