Illinois State Water Survey
Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Illinois State Climatologist Office

Jim Angel, state climatologist

Heavy Rainfall in northern Illinois in August 2007

Jim Angel, state climatologist

Northern Illinois has been plagued by heavy rainfall in August 2007. Here is information on the events, including maps and data. A Illinois State Water Survey press release was issued here.

A portion of that release says, "Rainfall amounts in northeastern Illinois already have established this as the wettest August and wettest summer since regional records began in 1895. As of the morning of August 24, rainfall for northeastern Illinois (including those counties from Boone to LaSalle and eastward) averaged 11.32 inches, 8.10 inches above normal, and beating the 1987 record of 11.02 inches. Totals for June–August thus far in this area averaged 20.02 inches, 8.91 inches above normal, and beating the 1972 record of 19.26 inches" more...

Since that press release, rainfall totals have decreased slightly (see table below):

 
                                  Illinois 
                         8/ 1/2007 to  8/31/2007

Climate          <------Temperature----->   <---------Precipitation--------->
Division         Actual   Normal      Dev   Actual   Normal     Dev   Percent
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northwest          74.1     71.5      2.6     7.17     4.40     2.77      163
Northeast          73.4     71.6      1.8    10.99     4.15     6.84      265
West               78.1     73.9      4.2     4.57     3.58     0.99      128
Central            76.8     73.0      3.7     4.16     3.60     0.55      115
East               75.8     72.4      3.4     4.73     3.77     0.96      125
West-southwest     80.1     74.6      5.4     1.66     3.23    -1.57       51
East-southeast     80.0     74.6      5.4     2.05     3.39    -1.34       60
Southwest          81.9     75.9      5.9     1.33     3.34    -2.01       40
Southeast          82.1     76.0      6.1     1.26     3.27    -2.01       38

State              77.9     73.6      4.2     4.31     3.65     0.66      118

Dev means Deviation From Normal, Percent means Percent of Normal

Maps

Midwest rainfall for August 2007

Midwest rainfall for August 2007

Radar-estimated rainfall for the Midwest for August 2007

The first two maps are provided by the Midwestern Regional Climate Center while the third is provided by the National Weather Service.

Station Data
NWS cooperative weather observer reports from 8/01/2007 To  8/31/2007. 
"Obs" means the observed precipitation, "Dev" means the deviation from
the climate division normal for this period, and "Percen Avail Data"
means the percent available data. An "na" means no data were available. 

 

                     State: Illinois   Climate Division: 1
                         From  8/01/2007 To  8/31/2007

Station                                    Percent                      Percent
 ID                          Precipitation  Avail  <--- Temperature ----> Avail
Number Name                      Obs   Dev  Data   High   Low  Mean   Dev  Data
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
110072 ALEDO                     7.96  3.85  100   84.6  67.0  75.8   2.8   81
110146 AMBOY                     7.92  3.70  100     na    na    na    na   00
110211 APPLE_RIVER_CANYON_ST_PK  9.30  4.85  100     na    na    na    na   00
112348 DIXON_1_NW                7.35  3.02  100   82.9  64.6  73.8   2.5  100
112745 ELIZABETH                 7.20  2.71  100   82.4  63.1  72.7   2.1  100
113262 FREEPORT_WASTE_WTR_PL    12.11  7.71  100   82.7  63.1  72.9   2.4  100
113290 FULTON_L&D_#13            3.45 -1.04  100   83.9  66.3  75.1   3.8  100
113312 GALENA                    6.04  1.55  100     na    na    na    na   00
113335 GALVA                     6.98  2.87  100   84.9  65.4  75.2   2.7  100
113384 GENESEO                   8.08  3.78  100   85.0  67.5  76.2   4.0  100
114013 HENNEPIN_WATER_TRTMT      8.92  4.93  100   86.1  66.0  76.0   3.9  100
114355 ILLINOIS_CITY_DAM_16      7.80  3.55  100   86.5  68.0  77.2   4.3  100
114710 KEWANEE_1_E               7.66  3.52  100   83.8  64.9  74.4   2.0  100
114879 LANARK                    6.81  2.33  100     na    na    na    na   00
115751 MOLINE_WSO_AP             7.34  3.05  100   86.3  68.2  77.2   4.7  100
115833 MORRISON                  6.01  1.57  100   85.2  64.3  74.7   3.3  100
115901 MOUNT_CARROLL             5.52  1.01  100   84.7  63.7  74.2   3.3  100
116080 NEW_BOSTON_DAM_17         7.15  3.05  100   87.3  68.0  77.6   4.3  100
116490 OREGON_3_SW               8.29  3.93  100     na    na    na    na   00
116661 PAW_PAW_2_NW              6.52  2.40  100   81.4  63.1  72.2   0.9  100
116897 POLO_5_NW                 7.32  2.89  100   84.4  63.6  74.0   3.1  100
116998 PRINCETON                 9.57  5.48  100   84.7  66.7  75.7   3.6  100
117014 PROPHETSTOWN              8.83  4.45  100     na    na    na    na   00
117354 ROCHELLE                 10.23  5.98  100   81.7  64.0  72.8   1.9  100
117370 ROCK_FALLS_3_NE           7.25  2.90  100     na    na    na    na   00
117382 ROCKFORD_AIRPORT         13.98  9.68  100   83.8  65.3  74.5   4.0  100
117391 ROCK_ISLAND_L&D_15        6.10  1.79  100   85.4  69.7  77.5   5.2  100
117470 ROSCOE_2_SE              12.24  7.96  100     na    na    na    na   00
117916 SHIRLAND                 11.62  7.31   94     na    na    na    na   00
118254 STEWARD_3S               10.53  6.35  100     na    na    na    na   00
118293 STOCKTON_3_NNE            7.16  2.71  100   81.1  62.5  71.8   1.5  100
119469 WOODHULL                  5.79  1.69  100     na    na    na    na   00

                     State: Illinois   Climate Division: 2
                         From  8/01/2007 To  8/31/2007

Station                                    Percent                      Percent
 ID                          Precipitation  Avail  <--- Temperature ----> Avail
Number Name                      Obs   Dev  Data   High   Low  Mean   Dev  Data
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
110203 ANTIOCH                  11.42  7.12  100   81.1  65.0  73.1   2.5  100
110338 AURORA                    9.20  5.03  100   83.0  66.6  74.8   3.2  100
110442 BARRINGTON_3SW           13.84  9.50  100   80.4  64.3  72.3   1.1  100
110583 BELVIDERE                15.29 10.97  100     na    na    na    na   00
111420 CHANNAHON_DRESDEN_ISLAND 10.35  6.48  100   85.0  66.9  75.9   3.9  100
111497 CHICAGO_BOTANICAL_GARDEN 12.76  8.52  100   83.8  63.7  73.8   2.5  100
111549 CHICAGO_OHARE_AP          9.70  5.39  100   83.2  66.4  74.8   3.2  100
111550 CHICAGO_NORTHERLY_ISLAND    na    na   00   82.9  70.1  76.5   4.9  100
111577 CHICAGO_MIDWAY_AP_3SW     8.76  4.69  100   83.1  67.9  75.5   3.8  100
112048 CRYSTAL_LAKE_4_NW        12.12  7.80  100     na    na    na    na   00
112223 DE_KALB                  12.02  7.74  100   82.4  64.7  73.6   2.5  100
112510 EARLVILLE_3_S            10.65  6.59  100     na    na    na    na   00
112709 ELBURN                    9.06  4.82  100     na    na    na    na   00
112736 ELGIN                    15.69 11.35  100   83.2  63.7  73.4   2.1  100
113392 GENOA_2_SW               16.56 12.23  100     na    na    na    na   00
113490 GLEN_ELLYN_4_S            8.28  4.08  100     na    na    na    na   00
113902 HARVARD                  11.55  7.24  100     na    na    na    na   00
114530 JOLIET_BRANDON_RD_DAM    10.75  6.82  100   83.1  66.3  74.7   2.8  100
114816 LA_GRANGE                 8.72  4.58  100     na    na    na    na   00
114890 LANSING                   6.77  2.86  100     na    na    na    na   00
115110 LITTLE_RED_SCHOOL_HOUSE   9.68  5.60  100     na    na    na    na   00
115313 MANHATTAN_4_SW            0.55 -3.24  100     na    na    na    na   00
115326 MARENGO                  14.19  9.87  100   83.3  63.8  73.5   2.9  100
115372 MARSEILLES_LOCK          14.46 10.56  100   84.4  64.6  74.5   2.4  100
115493 MCHENRY_WG_STRATTON_L&D  12.71  8.39  100   80.6  63.3  72.0   1.1  100
115562 MENDOTA__2_SE            10.91  6.81  100     na    na    na    na   00
115763 MONEE_RESERVOIR          13.14  9.31   74     na    na    na    na   00
115825 MORRIS_1_NW              12.59  8.72  100   85.1  67.2  76.2   4.1  100
115961 MUNDELEIN_4_WSW          12.48  8.16  100   82.0  63.8  72.9   1.8  100
116065 NEWARK_2_SSE             11.90  7.90   68     na    na    na    na   00
116281 OAK_BROOK_2W              8.13  3.93  100     na    na    na    na   00
116526 OTTAWA_5SW               14.27 10.34  100   84.0  66.3  75.1   3.1  100
116616 PARK_FOREST               6.88  2.99   94   85.0  65.9  75.4   3.7   71
116725 PEOTONE                  16.06 12.27  100     na    na    na    na   00
116753 PERU                     11.66  7.67  100   84.7  65.4  75.0   3.0  100
116849 PLAINFIELD_3_NE           9.38  5.33  100     na    na    na    na   00
116855 PLANO                    10.86  6.77  100     na    na    na    na   00
117457 ROMEOVILLE_WFO            9.76  5.75  100   83.2  66.3  74.7   2.9  100
117579 ST_CHARLES_2NW_RIVER      8.09  3.80   26     na    na    na    na   00
117586 ST_CHARLES_7_NW          10.49  6.18  100     na    na    na    na   00
117833 SHABBONA_3S               8.30  4.14  100     na    na    na    na   00
118192 SPRING_GROVE             10.06  5.76  100     na    na    na    na   00
118324 STREAMWOOD               11.79  7.45  100   86.9  61.9  74.4   2.9  100
119221 WHEATON_3_SE              5.56  1.37   81   83.9  63.2  73.5   1.8   81
119480 WOODSTOCK_5_NW           12.96  8.64  100     na    na    na    na   00
119827 YORKVILLE_3_SW           11.17  7.12   87     na    na    na    na   00

                     State: Illinois   Climate Division: 3
                         From  8/01/2007 To  8/31/2007

Station                                    Percent                      Percent
 ID                          Precipitation  Avail  <--- Temperature ----> Avail
Number Name                      Obs   Dev  Data   High   Low  Mean   Dev  Data
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
110140 ALTONA                    1.71 -2.37   39     na    na    na    na   00
110330 AUGUSTA                   2.87 -0.69  100     na    na    na    na   00
110356 AVON_5_NE                 4.59  0.87  100     na    na    na    na   00
110598 BENTLEY                   5.09  1.47  100   92.5  67.3  79.9   5.7  100
110987 BROOKLYN                  1.68 -1.87  100     na    na    na    na   00
111316 CARTHAGE                  3.47 -0.18  100     na    na    na    na   00
112125 DAHINDA_1_NE              5.37  1.46  100     na    na    na    na   00
113320 GALESBURG                 6.37  2.44  100   86.3  68.4  77.3   4.3  100
113455 GLADSTONE_DAM_18          6.14  2.22  100   87.5  68.4  77.9   4.4  100
113530 GOLDEN                    2.67 -0.84  100   91.5  67.2  79.3   4.9  100
114780 KNOXVILLE                 6.93  3.05  100   85.8  66.6  76.2   3.3  100
114823 LA_HARPE                  4.96  1.24  100   89.3  65.4  77.3   3.6  100
115038 LEWISTOWN                 2.56 -1.02  100     na    na    na    na   00
115280 MACOMB                    1.65 -2.00  100     na    na    na    na   00
115334 MARIETTA                  3.16 -0.47   29     na    na    na    na   00
115768 MONMOUTH                  6.34  2.42   97   88.1  67.1  77.6   4.4  100
115772 MONMOUTH_4NW              6.40  2.46  100   85.3  65.7  75.5   2.2  100
115935 MOUNT_STERLING            1.11 -2.35  100     na    na    na    na   00
116670 PAYSON                    3.76  0.30  100     na    na    na    na   00
116970 PRAIRIE_CITY_2S           2.56 -1.10  100   89.0  67.7  78.4   5.0  100
117072 QUINCY_REGIONAL_AP        2.50 -0.96  100   91.0  68.7  79.9   5.2  100
117077 QUINCY_DAM_21             5.60  2.12  100   91.0  70.1  80.5   5.7  100
117278 RIPLEY                    0.55 -2.93   16     na    na    na    na   00
117551 RUSHVILLE                 0.89 -2.62  100   90.6  67.3  79.0   4.9  100
118204 ST_DAVID                  3.09 -0.50  100     na    na    na    na   00
119816 YATES_CITY                4.85  1.11  100     na    na    na    na   00

                     State: Illinois   Climate Division: 4
                         From  8/01/2007 To  8/31/2007

Station                                    Percent                      Percent
 ID                          Precipitation  Avail  <--- Temperature ----> Avail
Number Name                      Obs   Dev  Data   High   Low  Mean   Dev  Data
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
110305 ATHENS_2_N                1.45 -2.16   90     na    na    na    na   00
110306 ATHENS_2SW                2.78 -0.78  100   88.5  67.2  77.8   3.9  100
110761 BLOOMINGTON_WATERWORKS    2.04 -1.64  100     na    na    na    na   00
110764 BLOOMINGTON_5W            1.61 -2.06  100   86.8  66.1  76.4   3.4  100
110868 BRADFORD_3SSE             5.26  1.25  100     na    na    na    na   00
111083 BUFFALO                   2.98 -0.66  100     na    na    na    na   00
111236 CAMP_GROVE_2_SW           6.44  2.50  100     na    na    na    na   00
111475 CHENOA                    4.47  0.80  100   86.6  66.0  76.3   3.8  100
111627 CHILLICOTHE               6.96  3.16  100     na    na    na    na   00
111743 CLINTON_1_SSW             1.90 -1.98  100     na    na    na    na   00
111836 CONGERVILLE_2_NW          3.31 -0.30  100   88.5  65.5  77.0   4.1  100
112193 DECATUR                   0.64 -3.13   90     na    na    na    na   00
112197 DECATUR_4N                1.12 -2.73   90   92.9  65.7  79.3   5.5  100
112854 EUREKA                    5.54  1.92  100     na    na    na    na   00
112993 FARMER_CITY               1.48 -2.38  100     na    na    na    na   00
113722 GROVELAND_2WNW            3.16 -0.46  100     na    na    na    na   00
113940 HAVANA_4_NNE              2.54 -1.02  100     na    na    na    na   00
114805 LACON_1_N                 6.25  2.38  100   88.6  68.2  78.4   5.9  100
115041 LEXINGTON                 3.91  0.27  100     na    na    na    na   00
115079 LINCOLN                   0.89 -2.86  100     na    na    na    na   00
115272 MACKINAW_1N               2.60 -1.03  100     na    na    na    na   00
115712 MINONK                    7.72  4.00  100   86.4  65.4  75.9   3.4  100
115876 MORTON                    2.91 -0.71  100     na    na    na    na   00
115927 MOUNT_PULASKI             3.04 -0.78  100     na    na    na    na   00
116200 NORMAL_4NE                2.57 -1.09  100   88.5  65.0  76.7   3.8  100
116703 PEORIA_AIRPORT_3SW        3.10 -0.52  100     na    na    na    na   00
116711 PEORIA_GTR_PEORIA_RGNL_A  4.12  0.50  100   87.8  68.7  78.3   5.4  100
116760 PETERSBURG_3_SSW          2.99 -0.55  100     na    na    na    na   00
116765 PETERSBURG_2SW            2.27 -1.27  100     na    na    na    na   00
117004 PRINCEVILLE_2W            4.97  1.11   97   87.9  65.0  76.5   3.8  100
117329 ROANOKE                   6.16  2.48  100     na    na    na    na   00
117590 SAYBROOK_2N               2.98 -0.79  100     na    na    na    na   00
118222 STANFORD_2S               1.56 -2.14  100     na    na    na    na   00
118630 TOULON_2_SSW              6.87  2.87  100     na    na    na    na   00
118797 VARNA                     8.09  4.25  100     na    na    na    na   00
118990 WASHINGTON_2_WSW          5.53  1.90  100     na    na    na    na   00

                     State: Illinois   Climate Division: 5
                         From  8/01/2007 To  8/31/2007

Station                                    Percent                      Percent
 ID                          Precipitation  Avail  <--- Temperature ----> Avail
Number Name                      Obs   Dev  Data   High   Low  Mean   Dev  Data
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
110803 BOURBONNAIS_3NW          10.18  6.40  100     na    na    na    na   00
111447 CHATSWORTH                6.62  2.88  100     na    na    na    na   00
111655 CISCO                     1.29 -2.67  100     na    na    na    na   00
112140 DANVILLE                  3.03 -0.91  100   89.2  67.6  78.4   5.6  100
112145 DANVILLE_SEWAGE_PLANT     2.89 -1.07  100     na    na    na    na   00
112500 DWIGHT                   10.65  6.85  100   83.5  64.4  74.0   1.8   74
112923 FAIRBURY__WWTP            6.07  2.36  100     na    na    na    na   00
113061 FISHER                    1.53 -2.32  100     na    na    na    na   00
113413 GIBSON_CITY               3.63 -0.16  100   86.0  66.1  76.0   3.3  100
113774 HAMMOND                   2.11 -1.68  100     na    na    na    na   00
114198 HOOPESTON_1_NE            4.46  0.60  100   88.5  66.3  77.4   5.1  100
114603 KANKAKEE_METRO_WASTWTR    6.14  2.36   77     na    na    na    na   00
115292 MAHOMET                   2.31 -1.58  100     na    na    na    na   00
115646 MILFORD_5_NW              2.70 -1.11  100     na    na    na    na   00
115758 MOMENCE_5_ENE             6.79  2.98  100     na    na    na    na   00
115792 MONTICELLO_NO_2           1.87 -2.08  100     na    na    na    na   00
116344 OGDEN                     2.73 -1.21  100     na    na    na    na   00
116663 PAXTON_2_WSW              4.35  0.52  100   86.3  64.1  75.2   2.6  100
116769 PHILO                     3.00 -0.97  100     na    na    na    na   00
116819 PIPER_CITY                8.79  5.03  100   86.1  64.1  75.1   2.9  100
116910 PONTIAC                   7.21  3.48  100   85.5  67.6  76.6   4.2  100
117150 RANTOUL                   1.51 -2.36   94   90.6  67.3  78.9   6.1  100
117952 SIDELL_5NW                1.67 -2.29  100   88.8  64.9  76.9   3.7  100
118194 ST_ANNE                   9.28  5.48  100     na    na    na    na   00
118353 STREATOR_3_SE             9.82  6.01  100     na    na    na    na   00
118632 TOULON_2_SSE              6.87  2.87  100     na    na    na    na   00
118740 URBANA                    1.48 -2.46  100   88.8  67.5  78.1   4.9  100
118742 URBANA_2                  2.19 -1.74  100     na    na    na    na   00
118745 URBANA_S_AGRONOMY_FARM    2.22 -1.72  100   88.6  70.2  79.4   6.2  100
119021 WATSEKA_2_NW              4.73  0.93  100   85.5  64.2  74.8   2.8  100
Normals used for the deviations are from a grid and should only be considered
as an approximation for a particular station