Average nighttime low temperatures last week were top 5 highest on record across the Midwest, 5 - 10 degrees warmer than average.

The Southeast RCC's tool shows Chicago's temperatures last week were similar to normal temperatures in Orlando.

sercc.oasis.unc.edu/Map.php?regi...

CoCoRaHS observers are especially critical in summer when rainfall varies a lot.
Yesterday, we had 0.21" at our Water Survey station, Willard Airport got a big goose egg, and some parts of Champaign picked up >2".

Consider joining CoCoRaHS to help fill in those gaps across Illinois: cocorahs.org

#CoCoRaHS is an invaluable part of weather monitoring in the US all year long, and especially so when we have small-scale convective events that produce huge differences in rainfall over small scales.
See the 3" rainfall gradient across Bloomington-Normal yesterday. #ilwx

cocorahs.org

Historic rainfall across the Ohio River Basin (watershed average of 5.13" in the last 7 days) has caused widespread flooding along the River and its tributaries.

The Ohio River at Old Shawneetown, IL is expected to crest over 53', the 6th highest crest on record and the highest since May 2011.

This is a particularly dangerous situation for this region. Everyone in this area should take action now (e.g., charge your phones, make sure sump pump is working, have fresh batteries, etc.), and monitor forecasts and stay weather aware today through Saturday.

Key messages from @nws.noaa.gov Paducah office:
-> a very dangerous weather pattern today and this weekend
-> High risk of severe weather on Wednesday
-> Potentially catastrophic flooding... entire region is expected to get at least 7 - 10" thru Saturday
www.weather.gov/media/pah/Ds...

Spring has been kind of sneaky warm so far in the Midwest. March-to-date average daily high temperatures have been in the top 10 on record in many places, including 4th warmest in St. Louis.

Shout out to Southeast Regional Climate Center:
sercc.oasis.unc.edu/Map.php?regi...

The tri-state tornado, the US's deadliest tornado, occurred 100 years ago today. Over 700 deaths, including 234 lives lost in Murphysboro, Illinois. The tornado had an estimated 219 mile-long path through three states.

Check out @nws.noaa.gov Paducah's great page: www.weather.gov/pah/1925torn...

The precipitation across central and northern Illinois the last 2 days was much welcome to help recharge very dry soils.

The water table at @warm-isws.bsky.social site in Peoria is about 10 feet deep. That means we have to dig down 10 feet to hit saturated soil, compared to 3-4 feet normally.

Workshop #2 on climate and hazard information needs of emergency managers and planners - this time in central Illinois. Great insights from participants that will help us continue to build a climate information system for Illinois.

Thanks @illinoisstate.bsky.social for hosting us!

1/3

2025 so far has been very dry in east-central Illinois. Champaign-Urbana has had only 1.37" of precipitation since the start of the year, which is the driest first two calendar months there since 1920. #ilwx

The first half of January has been colder than normal. But, average temperatures so far this year are only among the 40th-50th coldest on the records of most long-term Midwest weather stations, including only the 53rd coldest in Chicago.
Maybe some recency bias from the last few mild winters? #ilwx

Our summary of the 2024 weather year in #Illinois is jam-packed! Last year was the 2nd warmest on record in Illinois and had the most tornadoes in our state, with drought and flood mixed in. #ilwx #climate

go.illinois.edu/scosummary