Pantagraph.com Weather forecast, local radar and more
NewsThursday, September 4, 2008 3:47 PM CDT
Comments Comments (4) | E-mail this page E-mail this page | Print this page Print this page | Enlarge type Enlarge type | Reduce type Reduce type | Search archives Search archives | RSS RSS feeds | Add to My Yahoo! Add to My Yahoo!
Gustav brings rain, cooler temps to Central Illinois
By Mary Ann Ford
mford@pantagraph.com
Advertisement

BLOOMINGTON -- The remnants of Hurricane Gustav likely will help Central Illinois more than make up for the lack of August rainfall before Thursday is over.

The Bloomington-Normal area is expected to get as much as 2 to 4 inches of rain before the system that had been Gustav moves out Friday. Areas northwest of the Illinois River could see 4 to 6 inches, according to Heather Stanley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Lincoln.

While there may be isolated thunderstorms that bring more intense rainfall, Stanley said the bulk of the rain should be the soaking variety.

That will be a welcome relief for lawns and gardens across the state after below-normal rainfall in August.

Illinois State University recorded only 1.8 inches of rain — about 1.5 inches below normal. Statewide August precipitation was 2.3 inches, 1.4 inches below normal.

That made for the 16th driest August on record, according to Jim Angel, climatologist with the Illinois Water Survey in Champaign.

The state’s January-to-August precipitation total still is 8 inches above normal.

“It’s been a very interesting year as far as the weather goes,” said Angel. “It began with a winter storm and a lot of precipitation that continued on into spring and early summer. The faucet wasn’t off until Aug. 1.”

Angel said it was the wettest year on record to that point, when precipitation was 9 inches above average.

“We moved into August and things did a reversal,” he said. “The odd thing about August is it was extremely dry but not extremely hot.”

ISU recorded only one day of 90 degrees or higher in August — a month that typically sees about seven, according to Darcy Loy of ISU’s campus service/grounds department. It was 91 degrees on Aug. 4.

As a matter of fact, Loy said, it was the only day with 90 degrees or higher by the end of August.

Central Illinois Regional Airport, Bloomington, recorded a high of 90 degrees Tuesday.

On average, the Twin Cities have eight days of 90 degrees or higher in June and nine in July. The closest temperature was 88 recorded on July 20.

While the 90-degree days were scarce, cooler days weren’t.

The Twin Cities’ average June temperature was 72.8 degrees, nearly 3 degrees below normal; July’s average was 74 degrees, 1.6 degrees below normal; and August’s average was 71.6 degrees, 2.6 degrees cooler than normal, according to ISU.

Except for August, it also was a relatively wet summer with 5.05 inches falling in June and 5.05 inches in July — more than 2 inches above normal.

The cool and wet weather that ushered in summer is on its way back.

Rain is expected to continue through tonight, and a weak cold front will bring temperatures in the mid- to upper 70s — about normal for this time of year — through next week, Stanley said.

Take a look
Remnants of Hurricane Gustav made their way to the Twin Cities Wednesday as clouds spiraled over the Cargill grain elevator and some odd plants growing out of a creek along West Washington Street. The new storm system cooled off the previous day's 90 degree plus temperatures. (The Pantagraph, David Proeber)
Video
Most commented stories
Browse online archives
Recent issues:
Reader comments on this story - 4 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Just A Guy wrote on Sep 4, 2008 2:01 PM:

" Global Warming and Global Cooling is a myth. "

steinbeck11 wrote on Sep 4, 2008 1:10 PM:

" The more accurate term is "global climate change". Some places are going to be warmer i.e. the poles where the ice sheets are melting, and other places will be colder. Also, the weather events will get much more extreme. i.e. Bigger snow storms, worse droughts, more Cat4+ hurricanes. To all of the constant "Global warming” posters - Your ignorance is showing again. "

Not so Political wrote on Sep 3, 2008 10:34 PM:

" I am going to dig out my jacket, than call Al Gore and complain about this global cooling !! "

kramer wrote on Sep 3, 2008 6:32 PM:

" must be the global warming thing.. "
Add your own comments

Please read the rules before posting comments.

You must be logged in to leave comments.
If you don't have a member ID, please register.

*Member ID:
*Password:
Remember login?
(requires cookies)
  Forgot Your Password?
 
Lee Enterprises Customer Service | 301 W. Washington St., PO Box 2907, Bloomington, IL 61701-2907 | Ph. 309-829-9000 | 800-747-7323
Copyright © 2008, Pantagraph Publishing Co. and Lee Enterprises. All rights reserved. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy