Illinois climatologist: Rain won't change drought conditions
Share and Follow


CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Rain fell for the first time in weeks in parts of Central Illinois, but it won’t be enough to end the drought and we’ll continue to see the effects of the drought for the foreseeable future.

State climatologist Trent Ford said he was getting readings of less than an inch in areas that got rain on Tuesday.

Ford said one good thing about the dreary wet weather is that it’ll reduce evaporation due to cloud cover. But, Ford also said it’ll take a lot more rain than what we saw to reverse the drought conditions.

“What we need is not just one big event, but several wet months consecutively throughout the rest of the fall, the winter into the spring to kind of dig us out of the, you know, the deficit that we have right now,” Ford said.

The misting we got will most likely put a hold on field fires for a couple of days, but after that, the risk will return. The lack of rain has been straining our river systems, and the implications could carry on through next spring.

Ford said the drought could hurt communities’ water supplies… especially towns who use reservoirs.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

TBI Investigation into Hawkins County Arson Results in Indictment

MOORESBURG, Tenn. (WJHL) — A Hawkins County man was arrested after an…

Key Information on Former LSU Receiver Kyren Lacy and the Latest Video Release of a Fatal Highway Crash

BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisiana state police have released video evidence in…

Brick road to be repaved in Lakeland due to flood damage

LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA) — The people who live on Easton Drive have…

Gaza Peace Negotiations Continue on War’s Second Anniversary

CAIRO – Peace talks between Israel and Hamas were resuming at an…

Labor Report Highlights Steady Job Growth and Rising Prices in the South

ATLANTA () — A new report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics…

Dolly Parton’s sister shares that she’s not ‘feeling her best,’ requests prayers for her well-being

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Dolly Parton’s sister took to social media Tuesday…

Paralympian Transforms Challenges into Gold Medal Success

DAVENPORT, Iowa — If Kevin McKee’s gold medals could talk, they would…

Sherrill and Ciattarelli Set for Final Debate in New Jersey Governor’s Race

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli will…