drought | Illinois State Climatologist

January 13, 2026January 16, 2026

2025 Was Warm and Dry in Illinois

Illinois was both warmer and wetter than the 1991–2020 normal in 2025. The statewide average annual temperature was 53.6 degrees, 1.0 degree above normal and the 18^th warmest year on record statewide. Statewide average total precipitation in 2025 was 32.94 inches, 7.8 inches below normal and the 23^rd driest year on record statewide.

Summary figure of 2025 weather in Illinois. It was the 18th warmest and 23rd driest year on record in Illinois. Some of the more noteworthy weather events included multiple heavy rain and flooding events in Chicago, a very large dust storm in central and northeast Illinois in May, and the 2nd driest year on record and driest since 1894 in Champaign-Urbana.

Another Very Warm Year in Illinois

The past year was very warm in Illinois, especially outside of climatological winter. March led the way with average temperatures that were over 6 degrees warmer than normal, and July, September, and October were all at least 2 degrees warmer than normal. Meanwhile, January and December were both 2 degrees colder than normal statewide, and below normal temperatures in February, May, and August as well (Figure 1).

**Figure 1**. Plot shows 2025 statewide monthly average temperature (black line) and temperature departures from the 1991–2020 normal (red and blue bars).

Average temperatures in Illinois last year ranged from the high 40s in northern Illinois to the high 50s in southern Illinois, between 1 and 3 degrees above normal (Figure 2). The year 2025 was the 15^th warmest on record in Chicago, and the 20^th warmest on record in Peoria. The warmest point in the state last year was Bean Ridge in Alexander County with an average temperature of 60.5 degrees. The coolest point in the state was Stockton in Jo Daviess County with an average temperature of 48 degrees.

**Figure 2**. Maps show 2025 annual average temperature (left) and average temperature departures from the 1991–2020 normal (right).

Although 2025 was not nearly as warm statewide as 2024, the average temperature in Illinois last year was still well above the 20^th century average. Last year was indeed another data point in a clear warming trend in Illinois, indicative of our changing climate (Figure 3). Models project continued warming in Illinois throughout the rest of this century, as summarized in the 2021 Illinois Climate Assessment and 2023 National Climate Assessment.

**Figure 3**. Illinois statewide annual average temperatures between 1895 and 2025 and the upward trend indicating warming and Illinois’ changing climate. Statewide climate data are available at NOAA’s Climate at a Glance.

Table 1 shows the number of daily weather records broken at Illinois Cooperative Observer stations in each month of 2025. A brief but intense cold spell in February broke 64 daily low maximum temperature records and 36 daily low minimum temperature records. Our very mild, if not warm, March broke 77 daily high maximum temperature and 41 daily high minimum temperature records. Meanwhile, intense June humidity broke to 102 daily high minimum temperature records, and storms in July broke 90 daily precipitation records statewide. Overall, 679 high daily record temperatures were broken last year, 418 low daily record temperatures were broken, and 435 daily precipitation records were broken.

Daily	High Maximum Temperature	High Minimum Temperature	Low Maximum Temperature	Low Minimum Temperature	High Precipitation
January	9	28	27	13	21
February	24	16	64	36	24
March	77	41	0	0	33
April	12	5	3	0	73
May	39	8	32	1	50
June	14	102	2	1	46
July	1	23	4	0	90
August	3	29	24	44	17
September	65	3	6	17	12
October	27	10	0	1	48
November	42	13	5	3	12
December	43	45	69	66	9
Total	356	323	236	182	435

Table 1. Table shows the number of daily local weather records in 2025 by month and variable.

Overall, the statewide average annual temperature was 53.6 degrees, 1.0 degree above normal and the 18th warmest year on record statewide.

2025 Precipitation

Calendar year 2025 was very dry in Illinois, as all but 2 months last year were drier than normal (Figure 4). Only April and July were wetter than normal statewide. Some of the more extreme precipitation months included the 6^th driest August on record statewide (1.74 inches), the 11^th driest September on record (1.36 inches), and the 9^th wettest July on record (6.23 inches).

**Figure 4**. 2025 monthly total precipitation as a departure from the 1991–2020 normal.

As is seemingly a perennial occurrence, June and July brought multiple rounds of extremely heavy rainfall in Illinois. Most of far southern Illinois had 8 to 10 inches of precipitation in June, following an extremely wet late spring in the region. Following the very wet month of June, parts of Fayette County in south-central Illinois experienced more than 12 inches of rain in a single day. Never to be outdone, the Chicagoland was subsequently impacted by extremely heavy rainfall in July, Including over 5 inches of rain in less than 90 minutes around the United Center on the west side.

For the fourth consecutive year Illinois fell back into drought in the late summer and fall as each of the last five months of the year were at least 0.75 inches drier than normal statewide. Total precipitation in August and September statewide was only 3.1 inches, less than 50% of normal and the third driest August to September period on record in Illinois. Once again, the region’s largest rivers approached low stage, including along the Illinois, Mississippi, and Ohio Rivers, causing some moderate challenges to shipping. The dry fall weather was beneficial to harvest, but depleted moisture throughout the soil and caused near-record low flow conditions in several Illinois streams including the Sangamon and Vermilion Rivers. Dry conditions persisted through the rest of fall and into the first month of winter, causing a significant expansion of moderate to extreme drought across Illinois.

Figure 5 shows the spatial variability of 2025 precipitation in more detail. Total precipitation last year ranged from nearly 60 inches in far southern Illinois to less than 30 inches in east-central Illinois. Much of southern and southeast Illinois were 1 to 5 inches wetter than normal in 2025, while most of central and northern Illinois were 1 to 10 inches drier than normal (Figure 5).

**Figure 5**. Maps show (left) total precipitation and (right) precipitation departures in 2025.

A CoCoRaHS citizen science observer in Metropolis in Massac County had 67.09 inches of precipitation in 2025, making the birth of Superman the wettest point in the state for two consecutive years. Meanwhile, two other CoCoRaHS observer in Savoy in Champaign County and White Heath in Piatt County had less than 22 inches of precipitation in 2025. Last year was the 2^nd driest year on record in Champaign-Urbana and the driest since 1894 with only 24.45 inches. 2025 was also a top 10 driest year on record in Peoria and Springfield, and the 12^th driest on record in Quincy.

Overall, Statewide average total precipitation in 2025 was 32.94 inches, 7.8 inches below normal and the 23rd driest year on record statewide.

2025 Severe Weather

Following the most tornadoes on record statewide in 2024, Illinois had another very active severe weather year… at least until July. Overall, the NOAA Storm Prediction Center reported a preliminary 146 tornadoes in 2025, but that total will likely decrease before the official count is released. Figure 6 shows the monthly frequency of tornadoes in 2025 compared to the 1995-2024 averages. March through June had well above average tornado frequency, followed by a large dropoff in tornadoes, and storms more generally, between August and November. It is likely the 2025 tornado total will be adjusted, but irrespective of changes, the year was another extremely active tornado year in Illinois.

**Figure 6**. Plot shows tornado frequency by month in 2025 (blue bars) compared to the 1995-2024 average (red bars).

The NOAA Storm Prediction Center also had 167 severe hail reports and 656 severe wind reports in Illinois in 2025. Some of the wind reports came from strong, non-thunderstorm winds that caused a dust storm in central and northern Illinois, including the city of Chicago in mid-May.

2025 Snowfall

Snowfall in calendar year 2025 was a tale of two very different seasons. As shown in Figure 7, most of the state had 3 to 18 inches below average snowfall between January and May last year, with the exception of a band of snowier weather in southern Illinois. However, multiple rounds of heavy snowfall in November and December gave much of central and northern Illinois 10 to 20 inches above average snowfall, somewhat evening out the lackluster spring snow (Figure 7). Overall, 2025 ended with snowfall deficits between 3 and 10 inches in northern Illinois, and snowfall surpluses between 3 and 15 inches in central and southern Illinois.

**Figure 7**. Maps of snowfall departures from normal across Illinois, showing departures from (left) January through May, (middle) September through December, and (right) the entire year of 2025.

While 2025 didn’t break any snowfall records for the state, it was considerably snowier than recent years. In fact, 2025 was the first year where the statewide average snowfall was above the 1991-2020 normal since 2021, and was the snowiest year in Illinois since 2019 (Figure 8).

**Figure 8**. Illinois statewide average snowfall each year between 1902 and 2025. The blue line shows annual snowfall totals and the red line shows the 5-year moving average ending in each year.

January 5, 2026January 13, 2026

Cool and Dry Start to Winter

The preliminary statewide average December temperature was 29.1 degrees, 2.5 degrees below the 1991–2020 average and tied for 53^rd coolest on record going back to 1895. The preliminary statewide average total December precipitation was 1.50 inches, 0.93 inches below the 1991–2020 average and the 29^th driest on record statewide.

Data are provisional and may change slightly over time.

Roller Coaster Temperatures

Day-to-day temperature variability in Illinois is highest in climatological winter, and December followed suit with huge dips and jumps in daily temperature, as shown in Figure 1 from Decatur. Daily average temperatures were 25 to 40 degrees below normal in the second week of the month and were 15 to 25 degrees above normal days around Christmas (Figure 1). Decatur broke its daily low temperature record with a -14-degree low on December 14^th and broke a daily high temperature record with a 69-degree high on December 28^th.

**Figure 1**. Daily December average temperature departures in Decatur.

When taken altogether, December average temperatures ranged from low 20s in northwest Illinois to low 40s in far southern Illinois. December was 1 to 5 degrees cooler than normal in the northern half of the state, and near to around 1 degree warmer than normal in southern Illinois (Figure 2). The warmest place in the state last month was Olmstead in Pulaski County with an average December temperature of 38.4 degrees. The coolest place in the state was Stockton in Jo Daviess County with an average December temperature of 22.3 degrees.

**Figure 2**. Maps of (left) December average temperature and (right) December average temperature departures from normal.

The extremely mid days last month broke 43 daily high maximum temperature records and 45 daily high minimum temperature records. Morrisonville in Christian County broke its all-time December high temperature record with a 72-degree high on December 29^th. Meanwhile the extreme cold mid-month broke 69 daily low maximum temperature records and 66 daily low minimum temperature records. Six places broke their all-time December low minimum temperature records, including -14 degrees in Decatur and -10

Overall, the preliminary statewide average December temperature was 29.1 degrees, 2.5 degrees below the 1991–2020 average and tied for 53rd coolest on record going back to 1895.

The Paradox of a Dry December with Plentiful Snow

December reminded us of the difference between total precipitation and total snowfall. Most folks think about snowfall as inches of accumulation, but for the climate and our water balance, the liquid water content of the snow that matters most. Case in point, northern and central Illinois had higher-than-normal snowfall last month, with totals ranging from 3 to 20 inches (Figure 3). Parts of central Illinois received over 400% of normal December snowfall, including 15.5 inches in Fisher and 12.8 inches in Bloomington. However, one inch of snowfall in Illinois usually yields between 0.05 inches and 0.10 inches of liquid water, meaning that even the highest snowfall totals last month equated to only around 1 to 2 inches of liquid precipitation.

**Figure 3**. Maps show (left) December snowfall totals and (right) December snowfall percent of normal in Illinois.

Overall, December total precipitation ranged from around 4 inches in northeast Illinois to less than half an inch in southwest Illinois (Figure 4). Most of the northern half of the state was near to slightly wetter than normal last month, while the southern half of the state was 1 to 3 inches drier than normal. Morrisonville had its driest December on record (going back to 1948) with only 0.60 inches last month.

Overall, the preliminary statewide average total December precipitation was 1.50 inches, 0.93 inches below the 1991–2020 average and the 29th driest on record statewide.

**Figure 4**. Maps show (left) December total precipitation and (right) December precipitation departure from normal.

Outlooks

Climate Prediction Center outlooks for January show an extension of colder-than-normal conditions from the northern Plains into much of northern Illinois and the Great Lakes region. January Outlooks show equal chances of above and below normal precipitation for the first month of 2026 (Figure 5).

November 4, 2025

A Warm and Dry October Ushers in Real Fall

The preliminary statewide average October temperature was 59.6 degrees, 4.8 degrees above the 1991-2020 average and tied for 9^th warmest on record going back to 1895. The preliminary statewide total October precipitation was 2.61 inches, 0.65 inches below the 1991-2020 average and the 67^th driest on record.

Data are provisional and may change slightly over time.

Mild October Temperatures

October is the most quintessential fall month, weather-wise, as we transition from a more summer-like September to what is often a more winter-like November. This year, October played to type and moved from summer-like warmth in the first half to real fall days in the second half. Temperature departures from normal in Olney show daily average temperatures in the first half of the month regularly reached into the 70s, between 8 and 12 degrees above normal. A cool down around October 20^th pushed most of the rest of the month’s temperatures slightly cooler than normal (Figure 1).

**Figure 1**. Daily October average temperatures and departures in Olney.

October average temperatures ranged from the high 50s in northern Illinois to the mid-60s in southern Illinois, between 2 and 7 degrees above average (Figure 2). High temperatures regularly reached into the high 80s and low 90s in early October, including 93 degrees in Minonk and 92 in Charleston. However, low humidity helped nighttime temperatures dip into the 20s and 30s on m any nights, including 26 degrees in Moline and 31 in Mt. Vernon.

The coolest point in the state last month was Barrington in Lake County at 55.1 degrees, and the warmest point was Morrisonville in Christian County at 64.1 degrees. Last month was a top 10 warmest October on record in several places, including Champaign-Urbana (6^th warmest). Unusually high temperatures in early October broke 28 daily high maximum temperature records and 7 daily high minimum temperature records. Two places, McHenry and Normal, broke all-time October high maximum temperature records with highs of 90 and 92 degrees, respectively, in the first week of the month. Only 1 daily low minimum temperature record was broken last month.

**Figure 2**. Maps of (left) October average temperature and (right) October average temperature departures from normal.

Overall, the preliminary statewide average October temperature was 59.6 degrees, 4.8 degrees above the 1991-2020 average and tied for 9th warmest on record going back to 1895.

Dry North, Wet South… Again

October precipitation has a strange perception in Illinois, especially for agriculture. While our soils and streams usually need a good drink of water coming out of the summer, too much rain can delay harvest, winter wheat and cover crop planting, and other necessary fall fieldwork. This year, though, October rain was mostly not an issue because (1) harvest progressed very quickly and (2) rain was hard to come by north of Interstate 70.

The first half of October was quite dry and extended drought conditions statewide from September. A significant weather pattern shift that coincided with the mid-month cooldown brought more frequent and substantial rain, especially in southern Illinois. Overall, October total precipitation ranged from around 0.90 inches in western Illinois to over 6 inches in parts of southern and south-central Illinois. Most of the state south of Interstate 70 was 1 to 4 inches wetter than normal in October, while most of central and northern Illinois were 1 to 3 inches drier than normal (Figure 3).

Overall, the preliminary statewide total October precipitation was 2.61 inches, 0.65 inches below the 1991-2020 average and the 67^th driest on record

Drought Continues in Central Illinois, Improves in Southern Illinois

Below normal rainfall continued from August and September into October in central and northern Illinois. Most of central Illinois has been 5 to 10 inches drier than normal since August 1^st, less than 50% of normal over that time. The dry weather helped harvest progress very quickly, but also created some challenges with dry vegetation and high fire risk. Dozens of field fires were reported across the state in the first two weeks of October, including one that burned over 1,000 acres in north-central Illinois. Many rivers and streams remain at or near low-flow, including extremely low levels on the Sangamon and Vermilion Rivers.

In contrast, drought was eased or altogether broken in much of southern Illinois, thanks to abundant rainfall in October. The U.S. Drought Monitor released on October 28^th showed significant drought improvement in southern Illinois, including many places that went from severe drought (D2) in the beginning of the month to abnormal dryness (D0) at month’s end (Figure 4).

**Figure 4**. U.S. Drought Monitor maps of drought in Illinois from October 7th and October 28th.

Outlooks

month of the year can bring all four seasons, including tornadoes touching down on ground with some snowpack. Quintessential November weather, though, is infinite thick clouds… break out the crock pot.

The latest outlooks from the Climate Prediction Center lean to a warmer than normal November across Illinois, but equal chances of wetter and drier than normal weather (Figure 5). A wet November would be something to be thankful for, to help with drought.

**Figure 5.** Maps of (left) temperature and (right) precipitation outlooks for November.

Outlooks for the period from November to January continues to lean warmer than normal, but we start to see better chances of wetter than normal conditions as we move into the heart of winter.

**Figure 6**. Maps of (left) temperature and (right) precipitation outlooks for November through January.

October 9, 2025

Illinois Drought Update

Below normal rainfall has continued into fall and has both expanded and worsened drought conditions across the state. Dry vegetation and crops have caused dozens of field fires over the past two weeks. Multiple rivers have hit low- or no-flow, including the Sangamon and Vermilion, and some municipalities have begun to enact voluntary water conservation measures. The short-term forecast shows dry weather will likely persist through mid-October, and longer outlooks do not show strong signs of substantially wetter weather through at least the end of October.

Drought Intensifies as the 2025-26 Water Year Begins

Very dry weather in August, September, and the first week of October caused a significant expansion and intensification of drought across Illinois. The October 7^th edition of the U.S. Drought Monitor shows at least moderate drought in 86% of the state, severe drought in 43% of the state, and a small area of extreme drought in east-central Illinois.

Maps in Figure 1 show much of central and northern Illinois were 8 to 15 inches drier than normal for the 2024-25 water year (October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025), and parts of east-central Illinois have been 10 to 13 inches drier than normal in the 2025 calendar year.

**Figure 1**. Maps show (left) 2024-25 water year precipitation departures from the 1991-2020 normal and (right) calendar year 2025 to date precipitation departures from the 1991-2020 normal.

Low River Levels Across the Midwest

Drought usually affects the flow and level of small streams and creeks first, then the tributaries of our larger rivers. When dry conditions persist for weeks to months we can see low flow along our larger rivers. Persistently dry conditions have caused very low levels along many of our state’s rivers, including the Sangamon, Vermilion, Embarras, Kaskaskia, and the Illinois River.

Very low levels and flow along the Sangamon River have added to dry and warm weather to cause several central Illinois lakes and reservoirs to drop quickly. As of October 9^th, Lake Decatur was 2.4 feet below the normal level and the City of Decatur has requested voluntary water conservation as the lake continues to drop.

Fire and Dust Risk

Recent rain has helped reduce field fire risk in many places. However, fire risk remains somewhat to very high, especially in central Illinois. We saw dozens of field fires across the state over the past two weeks, illustrating the continued fire risk. Extra precautions should be taken ahead of, during, and after harvest to ensure everyone stays safe considering the enhanced fire risk. You can find more information on farm fire safety here: go.illinois.edu/farmfiresafety.

Where are We Headed?

The October 7 edition of the U.S. Drought Monitor has over 86% of the state in at least moderate drought, which is up from just 6% of the state in late August. The Drought Monitor also has extreme drought (D3) in east-central Illinois for the first time since 2012.

**Figure 2**. US Drought Monitor current as of October 7.

Unfortunately, the next 7-days look to be dry once again across most of the state (Figure 3). Despite the recent unusually warm weather, the seasons work in our favor now, because our average temperatures will drop as we continue through fall and into winter, which will at least limit evaporation from streams and lakes. Climate Prediction Center outlooks for the third week of October show a return to unusually warm weather, with no strong signal of wetter weather in sight.

In summary: we expect drought conditions across the state will likely continue to worsen in coming weeks, albeit at a slower rate because of cooler weather and some beneficial rainfall in far southern Illinois.