November warm, wet in Illinois
<p class="p1">Illinois experienced its third wettest and 10th warmest November on record, according to Illinois state climatologist Jim Angel, Illinois State Water Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign.</p><p class="p2">The statewide precipitation total was 5.60 inches, 2.13 inches above average and the third wettest November on record. </p><p class="p2">In first place was 1985 with 9.05 inches, and in second place was 1992 with 6.51 inches.</p><p class="p2">The largest reported precipitation total for November was reported in Rock Island, with 8.39 inches. </p><p class="p2">This was followed closely by Sparta with 8.09 inches. Precipitation includes both rainfall and the water content of snowfall.</p><p class="p2">A weather observer in Jonesboro measured 9.53 inches of precipitation during November.</p><p class="p2">Most of the November snowfall came from a winter storm before Thanksgiving, which left a band of heavy snow stretching from the High Plains through Michigan. </p><p class="p2">Typical amounts in Northern Illinois for November were in the 6- to 12-inch range.</p><p class="p2">A few places along the Illinois-Wisconsin border had the highest amounts, including Harvard with 20.8 inches, and Gurnee with 20.2 inches. </p><p class="p2">Snowfall totals dropped off steeply, moving southward with the southern boundary of the snowfall ending near Interstate 70.</p><p class="p2">The statewide average temperature was 46.0 degrees, which was 3.5 degrees above average and the 10th warmest November on record. </p><p class="p2">The spread between the highest and lowest temperature reported for the month was 80 degrees, an impressive range.</p><p class="p2">Grand Chain dam in Southern Illinois reported a high of 79 on Nov. 5. Kewanee reported a low of 1 degree below zero on Nov. 22.</p><p class="p2">The above-average temperatures in November were common across the eastern half of the United States, including Illinois and surrounding states, just as the National Weather Service had forecasted. </p><p class="p2">This forecast was driven primarily by the strong El Niño occurring in the Pacific Ocean.</p><p class="p4"> </p><p class="p4"> </p><p class="p4"> </p>