Mar 07 | Climate Review and Weather Forecast

The first week of March and climatological spring was decidedly spring-like. Average temperatures ranged from the mid-30s in northern Illinois to the high 40s in southern Illinois, between 3 and 8 degrees above normal. High temperatures reached into the 60s and 70s early in the week before crashing back to the 30s and 40s. February ended 2 to 4 degrees below normal statewide, wrapping up a climatological winter season that was within 1 degree of normal statewide.

We had a fairly wet week across Illinois, but this time it was central and northern Illinois that picked up some much needed rain. 7-day totals ranged from less than a quarter of an inch in parts of southern Illinois to over 3 inches in north-central Illinois. Still, most of the northern two-thirds of the state has been 1 to 2 inches drier than normal going back to early February, and much of central Illinois has been 2 to 3 inches drier than normal so far in 2025. That said, with plant water use essentially zero this time of the year, and mostly unfrozen soils, even smaller rainfall totals can effectively recharge soil moisture and raise water table levels.

Looking ahead, temperatures will quickly rise through the weekend and early next week. The entire state will see high temperatures in the 60s and 70s early next week, really ushering in spring. But don’t be fooled, March always has surprises up its sleeves, and we’re starting to see better chances for a cool down in the third week of the month. This week is also expected to be a bit drier, with forecasted 7-day totals mostly less than half an inch statewide. The third and fourth weeks of March have better chances for wetter than normal weather, and outlooks for April and May also continue to show strong chances of wetter than normal conditions statewide.