Category: Heavy Rains

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June in Illinois – Warmer and Wetter Than Average

The statewide average precipitation for June 2014 in Illinois was 6.78 inches, 2.58 inches above average and the 8th wettest June on record. The wettest June on record was 1902 with 8.27 inches. Four out of the last five June’s have been wetter than average in Illinois:

  • 2010: 7.71 inches, 3.51 inches above average
  • 2011: 6.69 inches, 2.49 inches above average
  • 2012: 1.73 inches, 2.47 inches below average
  • 2013: 5.33 inches, 1.13 inches above average
  • 2014: 6.78 inches, 2.58 inches above average 

The statewide average temperature for June 2014 in Illinois was 72.9 degrees, 1.1 degrees above average.

Here are the maps of accumulated rainfall in June, 2014, as well as the departure from the 1981-2010 average. The rainfall was widespread across the state, and above-average as well. The area with the highest departures was the northwest corner of the state. There were 13 stations with 10 or more inches of rain in June. The wettest was Galena with 12.42 inches of rain for the month.

Much of the Corn Belt was wetter than average for June (last map) with precipitation departures from average in the range of 6 to 10 inches. That’s more than double the average in many locations. The results are high flows on many rivers and streams and flooding along the main stem of the Mississippi River south of Dubuque, IA.

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Wet June and Wettest Year-to-Date in Illinois

Based on preliminary numbers, the statewide average precipitation for June 2013 in Illinois was 5.19 inches. That was 0.99 inches above the 1981-2010 average. It was more than double the June 2012 total of 1.80 inches.
In the first map below, the two wettest areas in Illinois were in northern Illinois and an area just to the south of Interstate 70. The area in northern Illinois was part of a larger area of heavy amounts in northeastern Iowa and southern Wisconsin. The area in southern Illinois extended into southern Indiana and Kentucky. Both regions had rainfall totals in excess of 8 inches and even 10 or more inches in the red and purple areas.
By contrast, much of the rest of the state was close to average precipitation for June with 3 to 6 inches very common (shades of green on the map). The few areas in blue (representing less than 3 inches) in western and north central Illinois are not alarming yet because they followed a wet spring. In fact, much of the Midwest experienced a wet June, including the Ohio River Valley which experienced drier conditions early in the month.
The second map zooms in on Illinois and shows the departures from average for June. The wet areas in northern and south-central Illinois stand out with rainfall totals 3 to 5 inches above average. Areas in central and southwestern Illinois were below average.

30-day precipitation through the morning of June 30 for the Midwest.
30-day precipitation through the morning of June 30 for the Midwest. Click to enlarge.

June Precipitation Departure from Average.
June Precipitation Departure from Average.

 
The year to date (January-June) statewide precipitation for Illinois was 28.74. That was 8.91 inches above the 1981-2010 average and the wettest January-June on record. The statewide records go back to 1895. It is more than double the 12.67 inches accumulate in January-June of 2012 during the height of the drought.
The statewide average temperature was 71.5 degrees, which was 0.3 degrees below the 1981-2010 average.

Wettest Locations In Illinois in June

Location and June precipitation total in inches, ranked high to low. List cut off for sites with less than 5 inches to keep the list somewhat short.
                    FLORA 12.63
     BELLEVILLE SCOTT AFB 12.34
     BELLEVILLE SIU RSRCH 10.97
              CARY 0.3 NE 10.72
         BROOKPORT DAM 52 10.37
        CENTREVILLE 1.9 E 10.33
               STEWARD 3S 9.78
     MCHENRY STRATTON L&D 9.69
              TROY 1.4 SE 9.68
              CARY 1.9 NE 9.62
           YORKVILLE 3 SW 9.5
       BELLEVILLE 4.5 WNW 9.35
              HIDALGO 3SW 9.3
          CLAY CITY 6 SSE 9.16
             PALESTINE 2W 9.02
               GREENVILLE 9.01
      WHITE HEATH 3.7 NNE 8.99
             CAPRON 0.1 N 8.79
      LAWRENCEVILLE RIVER 8.76
           AVISTON 0.4 NW 8.73
                 OLNEY 2S 8.7
        BELLEVILLE 2.2 SE 8.67
              ROSCOE 2 SE 8.66
          ROCKFORD 3.3 NE 8.54
                BELVIDERE 8.5
           CHAMPAIGN 9 SW 8.49
                 KINMUNDY 8.46
         WOODSTOCK 0.7 SW 8.44
         BELKNAP 11.1 ESE 8.42
        MASCOUTAH 0.5 WSW 8.39
     EDWARDSVILLE 0.9 WSW 8.32
     HAWTHORN WOODS 0.6 N 8.3
                    SALEM 8.27
     GRANITE CITY 1.4 ENE 8.26
             ATWOOD 0.4 N 8.24
         SHERIDAN 0.1 SSW 8.23
                 ROBINSON 8.21
      WONDER LAKE 0.8 WNW 8.17
                  HARVARD 8.16
               ALBERS 1 W 8.16
                 HIGHLAND 8.11
          ROCKFORD 0.7 NW 8.09
           PALATINE 1.3 E 8.07
       ORANGEVILLE 2.8 NW 8.04
          ALGONQUIN 0.7 N 7.98
                    CASEY 7.87
       PARK RIDGE 0.7 WNW 7.87
             CARLYLE RSVR 7.82
       HARRISBURG 4.6 NNE 7.77
                ELIZABETH 7.76
 ROCKFORD GTR ROCKFORD AP 7.72
           SHABBONA 5 NNE 7.72
               CHARLESTON 7.64
         OKAWVILLE 2.3 SW 7.58
                  MATTOON 7.52
         CHARLESTON 1.0 S 7.51
             FREEPORT WWP 7.5
             SPRING GROVE 7.5
         EDWARDSVILLE 2 W 7.43
          MARSEILLES LOCK 7.42
                  DE KALB 7.38
            SMITHLAND L&D 7.36
           STOCKTON 3 NNE 7.35
            DE KALB 1.4 W 7.35
             DIXON 1.5 SW 7.33
                 VANDALIA 7.33
         PECATONICA 2.3 S 7.32
 ARLINGTON HEIGHTS 1.2 SW 7.29
        MANSFIELD 3.0 WSW 7.29
          WINSLOW 4.3 ESE 7.29
                  MARENGO 7.28
              SHABBONA 3S 7.23
            DUNLAP 2.6 NE 7.21
         CHARLESTON 0.9 S 7.2
           FARMER CITY 3W 7.19
                  TUSCOLA 7.18
           WOODSTOCK 5 NW 7.17
                  WINDSOR 7.09
      BUFFALO GROVE 1.5 N 7.07
              DAVIS 0.5 N 7.04
          BARRINGTON 3 SW 6.99
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS 1.8 NNW 6.98
          ROCKTON 1.0 ESE 6.97
     LINCOLNSHIRE 1.3 WSW 6.96
 ST. FRANCISVILLE 2.3 NNW 6.96
            EARLVILLE 3 S 6.96
           MARSHALL 4.6 W 6.89
                  PAW PAW 6.85
          CHAMPAIGN 3.6 W 6.83
                CENTRALIA 6.82
            WATSON 0.3 NE 6.81
           PEORIA 3.4 WNW 6.8
         ROCKFORD 1.5 ENE 6.79
             EFFINGHAM SE 6.74
       NEW MILLFORD 3.3 W 6.74
        CHAMPAIGN 2.3 NNW 6.7
                     IUKA 6.69
      LAWRENCEVILLE 1.4 W 6.68
      BULL VALLEY 2.5 WNW 6.67
       MONTGOMERY 1.7 SSE 6.65
                   GALENA 6.63
             MT OLIVE 1 E 6.63
        CHAMPAIGN 2.5 WNW 6.59
        CHAMPAIGN 0.3 ESE 6.55
        CHAMPAIGN 3.5 SSE 6.54
               TRIMBLE 1E 6.52
         WINNETKA 0.8 ESE 6.52
         SHERIDAN 3.4 SSE 6.51
           ASHTON 0.4 SSW 6.51
                    NEOGA 6.5
          FREEPORT 2.0 NW 6.5
                  ST ANNE 6.47
             MENDOTA 2 SE 6.45
             GALENA 5.7 E 6.43
              CAIRO RIVER 6.37
          YORKVILLE 1.1 W 6.33
          TUSCOLA 1.4 NNE 6.25
                CAIRO 3 N 6.24
    CHICAGO OHARE INTL AP 6.23
       RIVERWOODS 0.4 ENE 6.23
                NEOGA 4NW 6.22
             RED BUD 5 SE 6.22
            LISBON 4.4 NE 6.22
            MATTOON 1.3 W 6.21
                   URBANA 6.2
              BYRON 3.2 N 6.2
       MONTGOMERY 0.8 SSE 6.2
          LAKEMOOR 1.5 SE 6.19
 MOLINE QUAD CITY INTL AP 6.14
                    AMBOY 6.06
          MUNDELEIN 4 WSW 6.05
                   AURORA 6.04
       GRAND CHAIN DAM 53 6.03
                   HAVANA 6.03
      BANNOCKBURN 0.5 ESE 5.99
                   FISHER 5.98
            DIXON 3.0 NNW 5.95
 CHICAGO BOTANICAL GARDEN 5.94
          CHICAGO 5.5 ESE 5.93
       LINCOLNSHIRE 0.9 N 5.92
           ASHLEY 1.4 NNE 5.89
       PLAINFIELD 2.4 SSE 5.88
      KANKAKEE METRO WWTP 5.88
              SAVOY 0.9 N 5.86
               MT CARROLL 5.83
 CHANNAHON DRESDEN ISLAND 5.81
        LINCOLNWOOD 1.8 E 5.8
         EVANSTON 1.2 SSE 5.78
         PETERSBURG 7.5 W 5.73
                   MORRIS 5.71
               NEW ATHENS 5.71
        CHANNAHON 0.8 NNE 5.7
                  ROANOKE 5.69
      VILLA GROVE 0.6 ESE 5.69
        MARSEILLES 2.8 NW 5.68
        MOUNT OLIVE 0.4 S 5.65
       MARSEILLES 5.6 WNW 5.64
           GLENCOE 0.1 NW 5.63
           MORRIS 4.8 NNW 5.62
            NASHVILLE 1 E 5.6
          PEOTONE 0.4 ENE 5.6
       BROADLANDS 0.1 SSW 5.55
                  BUFFALO 5.54
        PLAINFIELD 1.1 SW 5.53
             GIRARD 1.2 W 5.49
     SHAWNEETOWN OLD TOWN 5.47
             SIDNEY 0.9 N 5.46
  HARWOOD HEIGHTS 1.9 NNE 5.46
             URBANA 1.8 N 5.45
     FAIRFIELD RADIO WFIW 5.43
        PLAINFIELD 4.8 SW 5.43
              KEWANEE 1 E 5.42
           COLETA 1.4 SSW 5.42
                   HARDIN 5.41
                  CHESTER 5.41
           LE ROY 4.1 SSW 5.41
                   RIPLEY 5.4
             EMDEN 2.4 SW 5.36
       MONTICELLO 3.5 NNE 5.36
           OSWEGO 5.0 SSE 5.35
               PEORIA 5NW 5.35
          KANKAKEE 3.2 SE 5.35
            SPARLAND 6 SW 5.33
         CHADWICK 2.7 WSW 5.32
      SUGAR GROVE 1.4 ENE 5.3
                  RANTOUL 5.3
                EFFINGHAM 5.23
                  DECATUR 5.22
            AURORA 3.8 SE 5.21
             MILFORD 5 NW 5.19
            AMBOY 0.5 ESE 5.18
                 ROCHELLE 5.18
        LONDON MILLS 1 SW 5.16
           SPARTA 1.9 SSW 5.16
     KASKASKIA RIV NAV LO 5.15
             AURORA 3.4 W 5.14
          PEOTONE 0.5 ENE 5.13
         CHAMPAIGN 0.7 SW 5.12
            PHILO 1.9 ENE 5.11
          PLAINFIELD 3 NE 5.1
           MINOOKA 0.3 NE 5.06
                    CISCO 5.05
            AURORA 3.6 SE 5.05
ELK GROVE VILLAGE 0.6 ESE 5.04
        CHANNAHON 2.5 SSE 5.03
           MENDOTA 2.4 SE 5.02
           PEOTONE 0.5 SE 5.02
           JACKSONVILLE 2 5.01
               MONEE RSVR 5
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Memorial Day Weekend Rains Push Illinois Records

More rain fell over Illinois over the Memorial Day weekend. The heaviest amounts were in the central part of the state and ranged from 2 to 6 inches (yellow to dark red in the map below).
Right now the statewide average rainfall for May stands at 5.03 inches, based on preliminary data. More rain is forecasted for today and much of this week. So this total is likely to increase as we go through the week. By contrast, Illinois received only 2.5 inches in May 2012.

Click to enlarge.
Click to enlarge.

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Heavy Rains Hit Western and Southwestern Illinois

[updated to show Midwest 7-day rainfall map] Over the last 7 days a slow-moving system produced heavy rains over western and southwestern Illinois. The first map for Illinois below is based on the highly detailed radar-estimated precipitation that has been calibrated with available rain gauges. The rains decreased eastward with the lowest totals in the northeast. The largest station total in Illinois was at La Harpe with 4.17 inches. Several nearby stations had totals of just under 4 inches.
Illinois was not the only state to experience heavy rains. The second map shows that substantial rains fell across much of Missouri, Iowa, southeast Minnesota, and western Wisconsin. To the east of Illinois, heavy rains fell in southern Indiana and almost all of Kentucky.
If last year was the year of the drought, I think this year can be called the year of the anti-drought.

Rainfall over the last 7 days in Illinois. Click to enlarge.
Rainfall over the last 7 days in Illinois. Click to enlarge.

Click to enlarge.
Rainfall over the last 7 days in the Midwest. Map courtesy of the Midwestern Regional Climate Center. Click to enlarge.