About the Illinois State Climatologist Office

Jim Angel, state climatologist

Our goal is to advance the use of climate information for the economic and environmental benefit of Illinois through applied research and information services. The state climatologist is a full-time state employee that is hired and funded by the Illinois State Water Survey. The Illinois State Water Survey took over this program after federal support was removed in 1973. The Illinois State Climatologist Office is located at the Illinois State Water Survey on the campus of the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and is part of their new Instititute of Natural Resource Sustainability. Our office is the recognized state climate office by the American Association of State Climatologists.

Contact Information:
Dr. Jim Angel, State Climatologist
Illinois State Water Survey
Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability
University of Illinois
2204 Griffith Drive
Champaign, IL 61820-7463
Phone: (217) 333-0729
Fax: (217) 244-0220
Email: jimangel@illinois.edu (easiest method of contact)

Biography - Jim Angel, Illinois State Climatologist

Jim Angel has been the Illinois State Climatologist since 1997 and holds a Ph.D. (1996) from the University of Illinois in the Department of Geography. His Ph.D. research was on Great Lakes storms. Since 1984, he has worked at the Illinois State Water Survey as a researcher on projects that examined droughts, floods, rainfall patterns, extreme rainfall events, storms, El Niño, La Niña, and climate change.

He was the co-author, along with Floyd Huff, on a rainfall frequency study (for example, the 100-year storm) that became the new standard for designing water-handling structures in Illinois. He has published several Water Survey publications, and journal articles in scientific publications such as Monthly Weather Review, Journal of Climate, and Journal of Applied Meteorology. He was recently the co-author on the new Climate Atlas of Illinois, summarizing 50 years of research at the Illinois State Water Survey.

Professional Affiliations

American Meteorological Society
Illinois State Academy of Science
American Associate of State Climatologists, President (2000-2001), Executive Committee (2000-2002)
AMS Committee on Hydrometeorology (1994-1996)
Adjunct Professor with the University of Illinois Department of Geography
Adjunct Professor with the Northern Illinois University (De Kalb, IL) Department of Geography
Northeast Illinois Planning Commission Water Supply Task Force (1999-2000)
National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges' Board of Oceans and Atmosphere Executive Committee (2000-2003)
Interim National Drought Council's Monitoring and Prediction Task Group (2001-2002)
National Precipitation Frequency Atlas Technical Committee (2002)
U.S. Drought Monitor discussion group contributor (2000-present)

Selected publications

J.R. Angel, and S.A. Changnon, 2008. Record heavy rains in August 2007: cause, magnitude, and impacts. Transactions of the Illinois State Academy of Science, (in press).

J.R. Angel, 2007. The April 2007 Hard Freeze in Illinois: features and impacts. Illinois State Water Survey Data/Case Study 2007-05, 22 p. [available at http://www.isws.illinois.edu/pubdoc/DCS/ISWSDCS2007-05.pdf].

Markus, M., J. R. Angel, L. Yang, M. Hejazi, 2007: Changing estimates of design precipitation in northeastern Illinois: comparison between different sources and sensitivity analysis. Journal of Hydrology, vol. 344, no. 3-4, pp. 210-222.

Pielke Sr., R.A. J. Nielsen-Gammon, C. Davey, J. Angel, O. Bliss, M. Cai, N. Doesken, S. Fall, K. Gallo, R. Hale, K.G. Hubbard, H. Li, X. Lin, D. Niyogi, and S. Raman, 2007: Documentation of uncertainties and biases associated with surface temperature measurement sites for climate change assessment. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, Vol. 88, No. 6, pp. 913-928.

Angel, J.R., 2006. Tropical Storms Reduced Drought in Illinois in 2005. Transactions, Illinois State Academy of Science, Vol. 99, #3 and #4, pp. 111-124.

Kunkel, K., J. Angel, S. Changnon, M. Palecki, R. Scott, D. Winstanley, R. Claybrooke, S. Hilberg, and R. Larson, 2006. The 2005 Illinois drought. Illinois State Water Survey Informational/Educational Material 2006-3.

Winstanley, D., J. R. Angel, S. A. Changnon, H. V. Knapp, K. E. Kunkel, M. A. Palecki, R. W. Scott, H. A. Wehrmann, 2006. The water cycle and water budgets for Illinois: a framework for drought and water-supply planning. Illinois State Water Survey Informational/Educational Material 2006-2.

Winstanley, D., J. Angel, T. Bryant, V. Knapp, M. Palecki, A. Russell, and A. Wehrmann, 2006. Drought planning for small community water systems. Illinois State Water Survey Contract Report 2006-01, 114 p.

Palecki, M. A., J. R. Angel, and S. E. Hollinger, 2005. Storm precipitation in the U.S. Part I: meteorological characteristics. Journal of Applied Meteorology, Vol. 44, No. 6, pp 933-946.

Angel, J. R., M. A. Palecki, and S. E. Hollinger, 2005. Storm precipitation in the U.S. Part II: soil erosion characteristics. Journal of Applied Meteorology, Vol. 44, No. 6, pp 947-959.

Changnon, S. A., Angel J. R., K. E. Kunkel, and C. M. Lehmann, 2004. The Illinois Climate Atlas. Illinois State Water Survey Information/Education Material 2004-2, 309 pp.

Angel, J. R., 2004. Temperature Variability in Illinois: 1895-2001. Transactions of the Illinois State Academy of Science, 97, #2, pp. 103-116.

Angel, J. R., 2003. Snow rollers in Illinois. Bulletin of the Illinois Geographical Society, v. 45, no. 1, pp. 31-33.

Angel, J. R., 2002. Illinois Tornado Climatology: 1950-1998. Transactions of the Illinois State Academy of Science, V. 95, #3, pp. 163-174.

Svoboda, M., D. LeComte, M. Hayes, R. Heim, K. Gleason, J. R. Angel, B. Rippey, R. Tinker, M. Palecki, D. Stooksbury, D. Miskus, and S. Stephens, 2002. An introduction to the Drought Monitor. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, V. 83, #8, pp. 1181-1190.

Angel, J.R., B. Ousley, and T.W. Schmidlin, 2000. A new minimum temperature record for Illinois. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 81, 4, 824-825.

Kunkel, K. E., and J. R. Angel, 1999. The relationship of ENSO to snowfall and related cyclone activity in the contiguous United States. Journal of Geophysical Research, 104, No. D16, 19425-19434.

Isard, S. A., J. R. Angel, and G. T. VanDyke, 2000. Zones of origin for Great Lakes cyclones in North America, 1899-1996. Monthly Weather Review, 128, 474-485.

Angel, J. R., and F. A. Huff, 1999. Hydrometeorological characteristics of the northern Illinois heavy rains of 17-18 July 1996. Journal of Applied Meteorology, 38, 266-272.

Angel, J.R., and S.A. Isard, 1998. The frequency and intensity of Great Lake cyclones, Journal of Climate, 11, 61-71.

Angel, J.R., and S.A. Isard, 1997. An observational study of the influence of the Great Lakes on the speed and intensity of passing cyclones, Monthly Weather Review, 125, 2228-2237.

Angel, J.R., and F.A. Huff, 1997. Changes in heavy rainfall in the Midwest, ASCE-Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 123, 4, 246-249.

Angel, J.R., 1995. Large-Scale Storm Damage on the U.S. Shores of the Great Lakes, Journal of Great Lakes Research, 21, 287-293.

Kunkel, K.E., S.A. Changnon, S.E. Hollinger, B.C. Reinke, W.M. Wendland, and J.R. Angel, 1995. A Regional Response to Climate Information Needs during the 1993 Flood, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 76, No. 12, 2415-2421.

Angel, J. R., and F. A. Huff, 1995. Seasonal Distribution of Heavy Rainfall Events in the Midwest, ASCE Water Resources Planning and Management, 121, No. 1, 110-115.

Kunkel, K.E, S.A. Changnon, and J.R. Angel, 1994. Climatic Aspects of the 1993 Upper Mississippi River Basin Flood, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 75, No. 5, 811-822.

Angel, J. R., W. E. Easterling, and S. W. Kirsch, 1993. Towards Defining Important Averaging Periods for Climate Normals, Climatological Bulletin, 27, No. 2, 28-44.

Huff, F.A. and J.R. Angel, 1992. Rainfall Frequency Atlas of the Midwest, Midwestern Climate Center and Illinois State Water Survey, Bulletin 71, Champaign IL, 141 p.

Kunkel, K. E., S. A. Changnon, C. G. Lonnquist, and J. R. Angel, 1990. A Real-Time Climate Information System for the Midwestern United States, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 71, No. 11, 1601-1609.

Huff, F. A. and J. R. Angel, 1989. Frequency Distribution Of Heavy Rainstorms in Illinois, Circular 172, Illinois State Water Survey, Champaign IL, 36 p.

Kunkel, K. E. and J. R. Angel, 1989. Perspective on the 1988 Midwestern Drought, EOS, September 5 edition.

Huff, F. A. and J. R. Angel, 1989. Frequency Distribution and Hydroclimatic Characteristics of Heavy Rainstorms in Illinois, Bulletin 70, Illinois State Water Survey, Champaign IL, 177 p.