CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Central Illinois experienced a light sprinkle of rain today, but experts warn that without substantial rainfall soon, the region’s water resources could face significant challenges.

Reagen Tibbs, a commercial agriculture educator with Illinois Extension, highlighted that approximately nine million residents throughout Illinois are living in drought-affected zones. Experts, including Tibbs, are increasingly worried about the potential consequences of this prolonged dry spell.

While Tibbs remains optimistic about the possibility of rain over the weekend, the region has been significantly dry this year. Many areas are currently experiencing a rainfall deficit of nearly a foot, with August and September receiving less than 25% of their usual precipitation.

Tibbs is hopeful that rain will come this weekend, but so far this year, many areas are a foot of rain behind, including seeing less than 25% of normal rainfall in the area in August and September.