Our mild 2023 continued this week. Average temperatures ranged from the high 20s in northern Illinois to the mid 40s in southern Illinois, between 4 and 10 degrees above normal. Here in Champaign, our average temperatures this week were close to our normals for early March. The very warm start to January followed a December that ended 1.2 degrees colder than normal statewide, and which capped off the calendar year 2022 which was 0.6 degrees colder than normal statewide. Importantly though, because Illinois has experienced a 100+ year warming trend, the statewide average temperature for 2022 was still 0.4 degrees above the 20th century average, despite being a bit below the most recent 30-year normal.

Most of the precipitation this week stayed in the southern half of the state. Totals ranged from less than a tenth of an inch along the Interstate 72 corridor to nearly 1 inch in the St Louis Metro East. These totals don’t include the half inch or so of snowfall that some woke up to this morning in central Illinois. Snow has been hard to come by so far this winter, which really isn’t surprising given we’ve had a top 20 warmest start to January on record. Snowfall totals since October 1st are close to normal in southern Illinois but are 2 to 10 inches below normal in central and northern Illinois. A slightly drier than normal December wrapped up the calendar year 2022 that was 3.5 inches drier than normal statewide, and the 61st driest year on record. As always with year-end summaries, there was quite a bit of variability with 2022 precipitation totals, including a 20” difference between Champaign and Effingham. Last year was the 14th driest on record in Mt. Vernon, but the 9th wettest on record in Freeport.

Following a mild and maybe even sunny weekend, forecasts are calling for more active weather across the state. Forecasted 7-day precipitation totals are mostly between 1 and 2 inches statewide, with higher totals in southern Illinois. The 6 to 10 day outlook, which takes us through January 22nd, has likely above normal precipitation and temperatures. Models are hinting at a shift to more seasonable temperatures in the final week of the month, so try to enjoy the milder weather while we have it.