For southern Illinois, 2020 was a wet year, and Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford says the extra rainfall lasted well into spring.
“January and February and March, and April and May, were all wetter than average statewide. In some cases like January and May, much above average.”
Ford adds most months were warmer than average.
“Some were very very warm, we think back to November for example, it was the seventh warmest November on record statewide.”
Ford says statewide total rainfall was almost 42 inches for 2020, which is 4.37 inches above average. Last year’s statewide average temperature was 53.3 degrees making it the 21st warmest since record-keeping began in 1895.
