February was unusually warm

CHAMPAIGN – So far for February, Illinois temperatures are 11 degrees above normal and we have a shot at having one of the tenth warmest Februarys on record at this rate.

“Over 250 daily record high temperatures have been broken across the state,” State Climatologist Jim Angel said in his weekly weather summary.

According to Angel, precipitation continues to be a “no show” and stands at 0.5 inches statewide for the month, less than a third of normal. Due to dry conditions and falling stream flows, the U.S. Drought Monitor now has parts of western and southern Illinois in abnormally dry conditions.

Four inch soil temperatures are in the 40s to the north and the 50s in southern Illinois. For the rest of the week, highs should be in the upper 30s to 40s north and the 50s and 60s in central and southern Illinois. The next week is expected to be warmer and drier than normal.