2007 sees ninth warmest fall on record for Illinois

SPRINGFIELD- Fall temperatures averaged 57 degrees, 2.9 degrees above normal as Illinois saw the 9th warmest fall since 1895. This was largely the result of warmer September and October temperatures that were 3.6 and 4.9 degrees above normal, respectively. 

"Statewide temperatures in November averaged 41.6 degrees, only 0.1 degree below normal," said State Climatologist Jim Angel of the Illinois State Water Survey (http://www.sws.uiuc.edu), a division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. "Temperature extremes ranged from 74 degrees on November 6 at Cairo, Carbondale, and Lebanon, to 15 degrees on November 29 at Paw Paw in northern Illinois."

Statewide November rainfall averaged 1.82 inches, 1.50 inches below normal. Heaviest rains were in east-central Illinois, where several sites reported November totals of more than 4 inches, including 4.83 inches at Danville. Accumulations of snow reported in northern Illinois in late November were an inch or less at all locations.

The National Weather Service December outlook calls for temperatures below normal across much of the northern half of Illinois but equal chances of above, below, and normal temperatures across the rest of the state. The December-February outlook calls for temperatures and precipitation above normal.

"Already December has a very active winter weather pattern. In the first 10 days, temperatures are averaging 5 degrees below normal with northern and central Illinois experiencing significant snowfall totals and ice accumulations," concludes Angel.

Data used for all statistics provided above are from the Midwestern Regional Climate Center and are based on preliminary data.