| |
For Immediate Release March 4, 2008
Wettest February Ends Third Wettest Winter
This past February was the wettest on record in Illinois with statewide records going back
to 1895. The 4.48 inches of precipitation was 2.49 inches above average.
February is typically one of the driest months of the year, averaging only 1.99
inches, according to State Climatologist Jim Angel of the Illinois State Water
Survey (http://www.sws.uiuc.edu), a division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Record precipitation combined with wetter than average conditions in December and
January have made this the third wettest winter on record with 11.32 inches,
4.63 inches above average.
Snowfall totals for February have been impressive as well. Typical amounts totaled from
20 to 30 inches in northern Illinois, 10 to 20 inches in central Illinois, and 4 to 10 inches
in southern Illinois. Antioch reported the largest monthly snowfall total of 37.1 inches and the largest
seasonal snowfall of 72.4 inches. Seasonal amounts of 50 to 60 inches were common
along the Illinois-Wisconsin border.
The statewide average temperature for February was 25.2 degrees, 5.2 degrees below
average. The monthly average temperature in February can vary widely from year
to year, ranging from 16.9 degrees in 1978 to 39.9 degrees in 1998. As a
result, this February ranks as only the 25th coldest since 1895.
"Everyone asks me when spring
will get here. While bouts of winter weather are possible through March, especially in northern Illinois,
they will become fewer and farther between. Once we get past this week, the
National Weather Service forecast indicates that we will see temperatures more
typical of this time of year with highs in the 40s and 50s," concludes Angel.
Disclaimer: Data used for all statistics provided herein are from
the Midwestern Regional Climate Center and are based on preliminary data.
| Highlights |
| Home |
Highlights |
Staff |
Data |
Information |
Centers |
Site Map |
Last Modified: November 17, 2008
|
