Recent rains are having an impact on the moisture shortage so much a part of the region’s weather for more than a year. The drought threat hasn’t been eliminated. But, the area finds itself in much better shape than at the same point in the meteorological spring season a year ago.
April’s 3.60”—the 49th wettest of the past 135 years—was the heaviest monthly precipitation tally here in 15 months. Not since the 4.00” which fell in January, 2005 has a single month hosted more rain.
The beneficial moisture wasn’t limited to the Chicago area. Illinois state climatologist Dr. Jim Angel reports statewide precipitation amounted to 4.60” in March and 4.08” in April—well above the 1.65” and 2.59” recorded a year ago.
A tornado touched down Monday evening within a mile of Williamsfield in west-central Illinois, 20 miles east-southeast of Galesburg.
-Tom Skillling
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
