No surprise: July hot and dry in Illinois

CHAMPAIGN — This July was the second warmest and fourth driest on record, according to Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel of the Illinois State Water Survey at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.

The statewide average temperature was 81.8 degrees, 6.4 degrees above normal. Only 1936 was warmer, with an average temperature of 83.1 degrees.

The statewide average precipitation was 1.5 inches, 2.6 inches below normal or about one-third of the amount that normally falls in July. July in 1930 was the driest on record, with only 1.02 inches of rain.

This year so far was the warmest and third driest year-to-date on record. The statewide average temperature for January–July 2012 was 56.9 degrees, 5.5 degrees above normal.

For the complete article see the 08-21-2012 issue.

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