October

October 15, 2015

October Warm and Dry So Far in Illinois

October has been both warmer and drier than average so far for Illinois.

Temperatures have run 1 to 2 degrees above average in Illinois and across most of the Midwest (first map). This follows close on the heels of a September that is now considered the 8th warmest on record at 70.4 degrees according to NCEI.

Meanwhile, precipitation has been largely missing in action in October (map below). The areas in gray across Iowa, and parts of surrounding states indicate almost no measurable precipitation has fallen. It’s hard to tell on this map because of the scale, but most of Illinois has received less a tenth of an inch for the month so far. The statewide average is 0.05 inches. Continue reading “October Warm and Dry So Far in Illinois”

September 17, 2015

Forecast for October, Fall, and Winter – Warmer Than Average

The NWS Climate Prediction Center released their latest outlook for October and beyond. It looks like the warm-than-average weather is expected to continue for the next several months. The primary driver in the forecast is the ongoing El Niño in the Pacific Ocean basin.

Illinois has an increased chance of above-average temperatures for October. There is not much to report on precipitation in Illinois. We are between drier-than-average conditions to our northeast and wetter-than-average conditions to our southwest.

October-December

Continue reading “Forecast for October, Fall, and Winter – Warmer Than Average”

October 31, 2014

October Wetter Than Average for Illinois

Based on preliminary numbers*, the statewide average precipitation for October in Illinois was 4.5 inches, which is 1.2 inches above average. It was the 15th wettest October since 1895. The wettest October on record for the state was 1941 with 9.06 inches of precipitation.

The largest precipitation totals were in the central third of the state where 6 to 8 inches were common. Greenfield had an incredible 9.94 inches of precipitation. Medora, Girard, and Carlinville also reported over 9 inches of precipitation. Precipitation totals were more moderate elsewhere; 4 to 6 inches in southern Illinois and 2 to 4 inches in northern Illinois. Also, several locations in northeast Illinois reported seeing traces of snow for the month.

The statewide average temperature was 54.0 degrees, 0.1 degrees below average.

*I updated these numbers on November 2 with only a 0.2 degree change in temperature from 54.2 to 54.0 degrees.

MAPS AND PLOTS FOR OCTOBER

The plot of past October precipitation for Illinois (below) shows that things have become slightly wetter over time, about 0.64 inches in the last century. The outstanding October’s of 1941 and 2009 are easily seen as well.

October 10, 2014

October Cooler and Wetter Than Average So Far in Illinois

The statewide average temperature for October so far in Illinois is 56.5 degrees, 1.4 degrees below average. The statewide average precipitation for October so far is 2.5 inches.

Here is the map showing how the precipitation has fallen in Illinois and surrounding states. The heaviest amounts in Illinois were the 3 to 5 inches between Interstates 70 and 74. Amounts of 1 to 3 inches were common in the northern and southern thirds of the state. The largest total so far is 8.38 inches reported at Greenfield in Greene County

Most of Missouri has seen amounts of 3 to 6 inches or more as well as parts of Indiana and Michigan. It was a little drier in the Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Ohio and the rest of Indiana where amounts of 0.5 to 2 inches were common.
Continue reading “October Cooler and Wetter Than Average So Far in Illinois”