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Illinois State Climatologist @ilclimatologist.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Remarkably warm September in the Midwest! Warmest September to date (thru 09/20) on record throughout the region The first two-thirds of September in St. Louis has been warmer even than the month of July their... for the first time on record going back to 1874.

Map showing weather stations across the Midwest. Stations are labeled with the ranking of average temperature from September 1st to September 20th. The first two-thirds of September 2026 has been the warmest on record throughout much of the Midwest.

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Illinois State Climatologist @ilclimatologist.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Illinois' record severe weather year continues into August with more storms, heavy rain, and damage overnight. Illinois @nws.noaa.gov offices have made more severe t-storm + tornado warnings this year thru August 9th than any entire year since 1986.

A plot showing the number of severe thunderstorm or tornado warnings issued by National Weather Service offices in Illinois each year since 1986. Illinois has already surpassed its record annual number of warnings.

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Illinois State Climatologist @ilclimatologist.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Last month was the warmest on record in several Midwest and Mid-South states, including here in Illinois. Map from: www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monit...

Map that shows April average temperature rank by state across the contiguous United States. April 2026 was the warmest on record in eight states, including Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. Map is from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.

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Illinois State Climatologist @ilclimatologist.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

If folks in Illinois feel like we've had a lot of tornadoes this year... you're right. We lead the nation in tornado reports via @nws.noaa.gov with 119 reports this year. The next closest state is Mississippi with 53... it's starting to feel a little personal now. #ilwx

Table of tornado, wind, and hail reports by state so far in 2026, through April 30th. Illinois has had 119 tornado reports so far this year, more than twice any other state.

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Illinois State Climatologist @ilclimatologist.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

Map of Mar 1 - Apr 23 precipitation ranks by climate division. Illustrates the disparities across the contiguous U.S. Spring (so far) has been top 10 wettest in the Upper Midwest, top 10 driest throughout the Southeast, western Plains, and Southwest U.S. Map Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet

Map shows March 1 to April 23 precipitation ranks by climate division. The Upper Midwest has had one of the wettest springs on record so far, while much of the Southeast, western Plains, and Southwest U.S. have had an extremely dry spring so far. The map is from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet.

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Illinois State Climatologist @ilclimatologist.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

The Upper Midwest has been exceptionally wet this Spring. In fact, this year is the wettest first half of Spring in Chicago, whose precipitation record stretches back before the Great Fire. #ilwx

Bar graph showing precipitation from March 1st to April 16th in Chicago, with records going from 1871 to 2026. This year, 2026, has been the wettest first half of spring on record in the city.

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Illinois State Climatologist @ilclimatologist.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

Many weather stories from this week. One of the lesser reported is record warmth early in the week. Peoria hit 80 degrees on Tuesday (03/10), making it the earliest 80+ degree high on record there, going back to 1884. And, BTW, the forecasted low temp in Peoria next Monday (03/16) is 9 degrees!

Line plot showing the first occurrence of an 80 degree high temperature in Peoria, between 1884 and 2026.

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Illinois State Climatologist @ilclimatologist.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Nothing to see here... just southern Illinois getting more precipitation in a single day than they got all of winter. #CoCoRaHS observers reporting the improvement in drought!

Map of 24 hour rainfall totals across southern Illinois, from CoCoRaHS observers.

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Illinois State Climatologist @ilclimatologist.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

Rain is finally in the forecast for Illinois, and we need a lot of rain after yet another very dry month. February is the only month on record in Moline with no measurable precipitation (T = trace), and is the driest month in the Quad Cities since (at least) the Ulysses S. Grant administration.

Table that shows the 10 driest months on record in Moline, Illinois and the Quad Cities area. Records in Moline go back to 1872.

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Reposted by Illinois State Climatologist

WARM Program at UIUC @warm-isws.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

Most of IL is in drought. Tell us how this is impacting you by submitting a Condition Monitoring Observer Report at droughtimpacts.unl.edu/Tools/Condit.... The reports are used by the US Drought Monitor and @ilclimatologist.bsky.social to better understand what is happening around the state #ilwx

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Illinois State Climatologist @ilclimatologist.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

January in Illinois was cold, snowy, and dry... thanks to abundant but powdery snowfall. Du Quoin had 19.5" of snow last month, which is 500% of their snowfall normal. Yet, Du Quoin was 2" drier than average last month with only 0.97" of total precipitation. 1/2 go.illinois.edu/scosummary

Maps show January total snowfall and January snowfall as a percent of normal across Illinois. Data source: NOHRSC gridded snowfall analysis.

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Illinois State Climatologist @ilclimatologist.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

So, it's still really dry across Illinois. January brought snow, but not so much precipitation to give us some relief. To give some idea of how dry it's been since August... the last 6 months is the 5th driest of any 6 month period on record in Bloomington-Normal, with only 7.10".

Table showing the top ten driest 6-month periods on record in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. The records go back to 1893.

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Illinois State Climatologist @ilclimatologist.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

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...

A map that shows 7-day average nighttime low temperature rankings across the Midwest United States. The map comes from the Southeast Regional Climate Center at https://sercc.oasis.unc.edu/.

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Illinois State Climatologist @ilclimatologist.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

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

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Reposted by Illinois State Climatologist

WARM Program at UIUC @warm-isws.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

You find the most interesting things at monitoring stations. Thankfully it was fake. @prairieresearch.bsky.social

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Reposted by Illinois State Climatologist

NOAA Climate.gov @climate.noaa.gov · 14/05/2025

Next week, the National Integrated Heat Health Information System (#NIHHIS) is hosting a Heat Safety Week to provide information about #heat risks and ways to stay safe this summer. Follow along with #HeatSafety. Visit Heat.gov for more information about heat.

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Illinois State Climatologist @ilclimatologist.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

#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

Map of CoCoRaHS precipitation measurements from May 13th in Bloomington-Normal

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Reposted by Illinois State Climatologist

NPR @npr.org · 06/05/2025

Most Americans frequently use federal science information. But few are concerned that cuts to federal science spending could affect their access to such information, a new poll finds.

npr.org

Most Americans use federal science information on a weekly basis, a new poll finds

Most Americans frequently use federal science information. But few are concerned that cuts to federal science spending could affect their access to such information, a new poll finds.

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Illinois State Climatologist @ilclimatologist.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

The implications of warming winters in the Great Lakes region (like changes in lake stratification) are often under-reported relative to weather extremes like flooding and heat. But, they are nonetheless impactful.

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Illinois State Climatologist @ilclimatologist.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

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.

Current and forecasted stage of the Ohio River at Old Shawneetown, Illinois.

Map of 7-day total precipitation as of Sunday, April 6 across the Ohio River Basin.

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Illinois State Climatologist @ilclimatologist.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

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...

Maps of severe weather risk on Wednesday, April 2nd across the southern Midwest, courtesy of the National Weather Service Paducah office.

Maps of forecasted rainfall amounts between Wednesday and Saturday across the southern Midwest, courtesy of the National Weather Service Paducah office.

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Reposted by Illinois State Climatologist

Matt Lanza @mattlanza.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

NWS in Paducah dropped a “catastrophic” this afternoon regarding the upcoming Ohio valley flooding potential. So that’s great.

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Illinois State Climatologist @ilclimatologist.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

More severe weather and likely widespread flooding in southern Illinois are highlighted in this morning's briefing from @nws.noaa.gov Paducah. www.weather.gov/media/pah/Ds... It is VERY important to stay weather aware this week across Illinois!

weather.gov

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Illinois State Climatologist @ilclimatologist.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

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...

Map of March-to-date daily maximum temperature rankings across the Midwest US.

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Illinois State Climatologist @ilclimatologist.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

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...

Photo of tri-state tornado damage to Longfellow School in Murphysboro, Illinois. Credit: Jackson County Historical Society

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Illinois State Climatologist @ilclimatologist.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

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.

Water table levels on March 1st measured at the WARM network's Peoria site (ICC). The blue area indicates the depth of the saturated zone below the surface.

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Illinois State Climatologist @ilclimatologist.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

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

Photo of presentation at the workshop on future climate information in central Illinois on March 4th.

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Illinois State Climatologist @ilclimatologist.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

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

Total precipitation from in January and February each year between 1889 and 2025 in Champaign, Illinois.

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Illinois State Climatologist @ilclimatologist.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

Snow has been a rarity so far this season in Chicago. As of this morning (and ahead of the potential for significant snowfall) the city has only had 10.1" of snow this season, which is 9th lowest on record through February 12, and the lowest since 1931. #ilwx

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Reposted by Illinois State Climatologist

World Meteorological Organization @wmo-global.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

Women and girls belong in science, and their inclusion fosters innovation. In 2025, we join the United Nations to celebrate 10 years of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science—a key milestone in advancing gender equality and empowering women globally.

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Illinois State Climatologist @ilclimatologist.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

A warm up following prolonged cold - as expected this weekend - increases the risk of ice jams on Illinois streams, and the Kankakee River is particularly vulnerable to jams and flooding. @nws.noaa.gov flood advisory: forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatx... www.fox32chicago.com/news/nuclear...

fox32chicago.com

Nuclear power plant to help reduce flooding, ice jam risk along Kankakee River

A nuclear power plant is helping to reduce the chance of flooding along the Kankakee River.

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Illinois State Climatologist @ilclimatologist.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

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

Map of January to-date average temperature rankings across the Midwest. Souce: https://sercc.oasis.unc.edu/Map.php?region=mrcc

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Illinois State Climatologist @ilclimatologist.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

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

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Reposted by Illinois State Climatologist

Prairie Research Institute @prairieresearch.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

A mild and wet start to winter, from @ilclimatologist.bsky.social. Prelim statewide average temperature and precipitation for December are tied for 36th warmest and tied for 31st wettest on record, respectively. More: stateclimatologist.web.illinois.edu/2025/01/08/m...

stateclimatologist.web.illinois.edu

Mild & Wet Start to Winter – Illinois State Climatologist

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