Weather

This year has been very warm across Illinois, to the tune of 3 to 4 degrees above normal. Through the middle of December, 2024 has been the warmest year on record in Chicago, Peoria, and Carbondale, and a top 5 warmest year on record virtually everywhere else across the state. Ironically, it was July – the climatologically warmest month of the year – that had statewide average temperatures farthest below normal. The mid-summer cool down was welcome following a very warm and dry start to the growing season. …

The first week of climatological winter brought at long last a prolonged taste of winter to Illinois. Average temperatures this week ranged from the low 20s in northern Illinois to the low 30s in southern Illinois, between 8 and 14 degrees below normal. Nighttime low temperatures this week regularly dipped into the teens and single digits, including 8 degrees in Springfield and 9 degrees in Kankakee. Very strong winds added to the cold to push wind chills in the -5 to -10 degree range.…

Most of this week’s weather was fall-like, with a nice taste of winter. Average temperatures this week ranged from the low 40s in northern Illinois to the low 50s in southern Illinois, between 6 and 8 degrees above normal. November to date has been 5 to 7 degrees above normal, and our fall season to date is among the top 5 warmest statewide. The prolonged mild temperatures made the late week cold a bit more surprising than usual.…

Our mild fall weather continued this week. Average temperatures ranged from the high 40s in northern Illinois to the high 50s in southern Illinois, between 3 and 7 degrees above normal. November to date has been 5 to 10 degrees warmer than normal, following a top 5 warmest October on record statewide.
Most of the state picked up a decent amount of rain this week with totals between a quarter of an inch in western Illinois to nearly 1.5 inches in southeast Illinois.…

The calendar has turned over to November, and temperatures have followed suit. That said, for most of this week our weather continued its mild trend that’s been around for most of fall. 7-day average temperatures ranged from the low 50s in northern Illinois to the mid-60s in southern Illinois, between 3 and 8 degrees above average. October as a whole ended around 1 to 2 degrees above normal statewide. The fall season through the end of October has been a top 10 warmest on record in Chicago,…

Meteorologist Andrew Pritchard provides Red Flag Warning information for University of Illinois licensed radio station WILL AM580.
FIELD FIRES ARE PROBABLE UNDER RED FLAG CONDITIONS
A Red Flag Warning has been issued for parts of Illinois and Indiana for today and tomorrow by the National Weather Service. Farmers are urged to be careful with machinery and prepare for the increased possibility of field fires.
Red Flag Warnings are issued when the following conditions exist.…

This week continued October’s mild trend with average temperatures in the mid to upper 50s statewide, between 1 and 6 degrees above normal. With only one week left in the month, October to date has been 1 to 4 degrees warmer than normal. The mild fall has added to what was a very warm first half of the year. Through October 23rd, this year has been the warmest on record in Peoria, and the second or third warmest on record in Chicago,…

This week brought some cooler weather just in time for the harvest moon. Temperature this week ranged from the high 40s in northern Illinois to the high 50s in southern Illinois, right around 1 degree of normal. The lack of humidity allowed nighttime temperatures to regularly dip into the 30s, and get below freezing for many places on a couple of nights. Some of the more impressive nighttime lows this week included 25 degrees in Mount Carroll and 27 in Springfield.…

October has taken over where September left off, with warm days and cool nights. Average temperatures over the past week ranged from the high 50s in northern Illinois to the mid-60s in southern Illinois, between 1 and 4 degrees above normal. The dryness of the air has been particularly remarkable, with afternoon relative humidity regularly dipping into the teens and low 20s. While the extremely dry air has been comfortable, it has also added to the lack of precipitation and increased the risk of field fires and blowing dust.…

The heat relented this week, and while temperatures were still above average they were much more pleasant. Average temperatures this week ranged from the mid-60s in northern Illinois to the mid-70s in far southern Illinois, between 2 and 6 degrees above average. September to date temperatures have been right around 1 degree above average for most of the state, but as with most Septembers we have seen quite a bit of variability day to day.
We had a bit of a wetter week across much of the state,…