Governor Quinn announced yesterday that federal disaster assistance is available to help Illinois farmers who suffered crop losses due to flooding this year (full press release).
As noted in the press release, the January-June period was the 4th wettest on record (27.2 inches, 8 inches above average) and an April that was the wettest on record with 7.59 inches.
January-June 2011 precipitation for Illinois. The heaviest totals were in southern Illinois. Click to enlarge.
January-June 2011 precipitation departure from average for Illinois. Areas in blue had precipitation that was at least 12 inches above average. Click to enlarge.
I think we will remember 2011 as a year of extreme events. In Illinois we have already faced a February blizzard, flooding, record rainfalls, drought, and a heat wave. The latest newsletter of the NOAA’s Regional Climate Centers Program has highlighted several major events from around the country, including:
The remains of Tropical Storm Hermine have reached Illinois this morning. Rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are possible and flash flood warnings have been issued. Check the National Weather Service as this event unfolds.
While we don’t often use the words “tropical” and “Illinois” in the same sentence, the remains of tropical storms and hurricanes have reached us before. Most of these systems came on shore in Texas and Louisiana and weakened considerably as they moved northward. Usually, the severe weather is gone by the time they reach Illinois but they can produce large amounts of rain than can lead to flooding.
The passage of four tropical systems alleviated drought impacts, particularly in southern and central Illinois during the 2005 growing season. The four systems were Tropical Storm Arlene, and Hurricanes Dennis, Katrina, and Rita. An article in the Illinois State Academy of Science by me described that situation in more detail.
More recently, in September 2008 the remains of Hurricanes Ike and Gustav produced heavy rains and flooding in Illinois. More on that particular situation can be found on my website.
The wetter and warmer than normal weather continued in Illinois this week. For the period of June 16-22, the state average temperature was 76.8 degrees, 3.6 degrees above normal. Meanwhile the statewide average precipitation was 2.46 inches, 1.55 inches above normal.
Illinois already experienced above normal temperature and precipitation in the first half of June. Combined with this week’s weather, the statewide average temperature for June so far is 74.5 degrees, 3.4 degrees above normal. The statewide average precipitation at this point is 6.35 inches, 3.37 inches above normal.
If you are thinking that we must be closing in on a record, you are correct. Statewide this is already the 10th wettest June on record. The wettest June on record is 1902 with 8.37 inches. Several individual station records will be set as well. For example, Galesburg has already received 11.25 inches this month. This handily beat the old June record of 9.97 inches set in 1974. This is impressive given that their records go back to 1927.
The wettest areas of the state are western Illinois and east-central Illinois. Based on radar estimates and reports from weather observers, monthly totals of 9 inches or more were common in these areas. The wettest spot so far is Warsaw (Hancock County CoCoRaHS observer) which has reported 11.38 inches through today (June 22) with more rain falling after the regular reporting time.
Here are the precipitation and precipitation departure maps for June 1-22, 2010, for Illinois. The June 1-22, 2010, rainfall in Illinois. Map courtesy of the NOAA Midwestern Regional Climate Center. The June 1-22, 2010, rainfall departures from normal in Illinois. Map courtesy of the NOAA Midwestern Regional Climate Center.
