2016 Was a Hot One

Unseasonably warm temperatures last year officially put 2016 in the record books.

It was the fifth-warmest year on record in Illinois with a statewide average temperature of 54.7 degrees (2.4 degrees above normal) in 2016, according to Jim Angel, state climatologist with the Illinois State Water Survey.

“Temperatures were above normal in 10 out of the 12 months,” Angel said. “The only two months that were colder than normal were May and December.”

The temperature in December averaged 28.6 degrees, 1.3 degrees below normal, which snapped a string of six consecutive months of above-average temperatures.

Meanwhile, precipitation last year was near average at 39.33 inches statewide, just .33 of an inch below normal.

Only May and December resulted in below-average monthly temperatures last year.

Above-average precipitation in March, July, August and September compensated for the fact that the other eight months featured below-average moisture.

“The year would have been a dry one except for the record rainfall of July and August,” Angel said.

Rainfall in those two summer months averaged a whopping 13.55 inches combined, 5.88 inches above normal.

The highest annual precipitation reading (60.46 inches) in the state last year occurred in Rosiclare (Hardin County).

Meanwhile, snowfall through December was absent in southern Illinois and increased northward. The largest monthly snowfall total (24.3 inches) for December occurred in Bull Valley (McHenry County).

Overall, though, precipitation for December in Illinois averaged just 1.41 inches, 1.28 inches below normal.

Topsoil moisture as of Jan. 3 in the state was rated 87 percent adequate, 8 percent surplus and 5 percent short.

Temperature swings experienced in recent months continued at the start of the new year as this week’s cold snap is expected to give way to milder temperatures next week.

Mild conditions so far this winter seem to benefit the winter wheat crop, although a lack of snow cover could be an issue if temperatures drop well below freezing for an extended run.

The current condition of the winter wheat crop is 69 percent good to excellent, 25 percent fair and 6 percent poor to very poor.