CHAMPAIGN, Ill., 7/19/23: Increased rain has improved soil moisture levels for most of the state, according to Jennie Atkins, Water and Atmospheric Resources Monitoring (WARM) program manager at the Illinois State Water Survey.

Illinois has received 3.41 inches of rain in the first half of July, 1.6 inches more than in the entire month of June, and leading to higher soil moisture across the state. Levels at 4 inches rose 47 percent on average in the past month. The biggest improvements are in the north where moisture levels have more than doubled.

Soil moisture rose in all Illinois regions through the 8-inch depths and down to 20 inches in the central regions. However, southern and east-central Illinois both showed declines, 13 and 10 percent, respectively, at depths of 39 inches.

Soil temperatures are slightly above normal in mid-July with an average of 80 degrees on July 15, 3 degrees above the long-term average. Highs have been mainly in the mid- to high 80s with lows in the 70s.

The Illinois State Water Survey’s WARM program collects hourly and daily weather and soil information at 19 stations across the state. Daily and monthly summaries can be found on the WARM website (https://warm.isws.illinois.edu/warm/).

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Media contact: Jennie Atkins, Ph.D., (217) 333-4966, jatkins@illinois.edu