Winter is now two-thirds over, and colder January temperatures negated warm temperatures in December. December–January temperatures averaged 27.1 degrees, just 0.2 degrees below average.

“Temperatures ranged from -15 degrees at Congerville on January 27, the coldest reading, to 71 degrees at Grand Tower on January 9, the warmest reading,” says Angel.

Precipitation has been below average since September, especially in northern Illinois, which received just 1.55 inches (42 percent of average) in December–January, 2.24 inches (35 percent of average) in November–January, and 6.62 inches (53 percent of average) in September–January).“Statewide, December–January totals were 3.03 inches (66 percent of average and 21st driest since 1895), November–January totals were 4.09 inches (52 percent of average and 12th driest since 1895), and September–January totals were 9.15 inches (65 percent of average and 13th driest since 1895),” continues Angel.

“The latest U.S. Drought Monitor (http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html) indicates the northern half of Illinois is in moderate drought, the first of four levels of drought. A band across north-central Illinois is in severe drought, the second level. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center (http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/expert_assessment/seasonal_drought.html) expects this area of drought to persist through April and expand southward into south-central Illinois. This outlook is based on the tendency for a dry spring at the end of El Niño events, a relationship that may not apply this spring because this event has been weak.