Yes, It Was A Warm October

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Illinois experienced unusually warm weather and below average rainfall in October.

Illinois state climatologist Jim Angel said Wednesday that the month was the 20th driest October on record.

Average rainfall for October was 1.4 inches. That's 1.5 inches below normal.

Northern Illinois was nearly normal for rainfall. Parts of southern and eastern Illinois remained dry. The U.S. Drought Monitor lists those areas as ``abnormally dry'' and southeastern Illinois as ``moderate drought.''

The statewide average temperature for October was 56.2 degrees, 1.6 degrees above normal.

The highest temperature for the month was reported at Fairfield with 93 degrees on Oct. 10. The lowest was reported at Minonk with 22 degrees on Oct. 29 and Sidell with 22 degrees on Oct. 30.

The forecast for tonight, however, calls for cold, windy conditions, with some scattered lake effect snow showers. No accumulation is expected.

More information at www.isws.illinois.edu

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