Yes, It's Been Wet

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Published on September 1 2016 9:39 am
Last Updated on September 1 2016 9:40 am
Written by Greg Sapp

Farmers and backyard gardeners can always tell you if the weather has been wetter than normal, but this year everyone should be able to identify that the state has seen more rain than average.

State Climatologist Jim Angel says we've just passed through the wettest July through August ever.

Angel said a drier start to September would be welcome to farmers who are ready to start harvest.

Just for the month of August, it is close to the driest ever, at least in some parts of Illinois.

Eric Schmidt of EJS Weather in Newton said this was the second-wettest August on record, only behind 1985.

The meteorologist said a La Nina pattern may be forming, bringing what Schmidt calls "ideal" harvest weather between mid-September and mid-October. He said on Tuesday's RFD Today radio program, "We're trying to switch from an El Nino to a La Nina. When that happens we sometimes have a little drier fall."