November Snowfall in Illinois

We have generated maps of the new 1981-2010 normals for Illinois, including the new November snowfall normals and the number of days with “measurable” snowfall (0.1 inches or more). See the maps below (click to enlarge).
While we may sometimes see snow in late October, November is normally the start to the snowfall season for much of Illinois. However, the average amounts are small by the standard of later winter months, ranging from 1-2 inches in northern Illinois to less than an inch in central Illinois to zero in southeastern Illinois.
The number of days with measurable snowfall, or snowfall frequency, is uncannily like the snowfall totals. The snowfall frequency ranges from 1-2 days for November in northern Illinois, to less than a day in central Illinois, to zero in southeastern Illinois. When the frequency drops below one day it means snowfall does not occur every year. For example, an average frequency of 0.5 days means it happens only once every 2 years on average.
November snowfall

October and Fall – Warm and Dry in Illinois

The NWS Climate Prediction Center has released their outlooks for October and October-December. For Illinois there is an increased chance that temperatures will be above-average in both the October and October-December time frames. Also there is an increased chance that precipitation will be below-average in both October and October-December.
As posted earlier, this forecast is consistent with the known impacts of the rejuvenated La Niña event occurring in the Pacific Basin. La Niña tends to give us warmer and drier than average conditions in fall. Last fall was a classic example of this with temperatures 1.2 degrees above average and precipitation 12% below average.

seasonal outlook
The October and October-December outlooks of temperature and precipitation from the NWS Climate Prediction Center. Click to enlarge.

Warm November in Illinois

November

The statewide average temperature for November 2010 was 43.4 degrees, which was 1.6 degrees above normal. That makes it the 26th warmest November since statewide records began in 1895.
By the way, the 2000’s are well represented in the list of warm Novembers. Their rank and year include: #1 (2001), #5 (2009), #10 (2004), #14 (2003), #16 (2005), and #17 (2006).
The statewide average precipitation for November was 3.2 inches, only 0.1 inches below normal. November was exceptionally dry until the long Thanksgiving weekend arrived. Rains from that period signaled the recovery of soil moisture around the state. See the earlier posts on this subject.
The highest monthly total precipitation in Illinois for November was 7.15 inches recorded at Mt Carmel. The highest daily temperature for November was 82 degrees recorded at Cairo on November 13. The lowest daily temperature for November was 12 degrees recorded at Mt Carroll on November 26.

Fall

The statewide average temperature for fall (September-November) was 55.4 degrees, 1.2 degrees above normal.
The statewide average precipitation for fall was 8.6 inches, 0.8 inches below normal. Widespread rains in early September and late November masked the long period in between with dry conditions.
Note: these numbers are preliminary and subject to change as more data arrives.

First Half of November – Warm and Dry

First Half of November

The first half of November in Illinois has been warm and dry, according to preliminary data from November 1-15, 2010. The statewide average temperature was 47.3 degrees, 2.9 degrees above normal. The statewide average precipitation was only 0.21 inches, only 13 percent of normal for the first half of November.

Past November’s in Illinois

  • The driest November on record was 1904 with 0.28 inches.
  • November 2007 was the 25th driest with 1.75 inches.
  • November 2008 was the 20th driest with 1.48 inches.
  • November 2009 was near-normal with 2.47 inches.
  • Normal state-wide precipitation for November is 3.34 inches.

The term “normal” refers to the 1971-2000 average.

Precipitation percent of normal for first half of November 2010
Precipitation (Percent of Normal) for the First Half of November 2010.