CHAMPAIGN, Ill., 9/16/22: Falling air temperatures in Illinois have led to cooler soil temperatures, according to Jennie Atkins, Water and Atmospheric Resources Monitoring (WARM) program manager at the Illinois State Water Survey.

Soil temperatures fell during the first two weeks of September as cooler weather moved into the state. Temperatures at 4 inches under bare soil averaged 71 degrees on September 14, 6 degrees cooler than at the start of the month and 8 degrees lower than in September of last year. Daily highs were in the 70s and 80s with lows in the 60s for most of the state. 

However, with warmer weather forecasted for Illinois, soil temperatures are expected to rise in the second half of the month.

Soil moisture at 2-inch depths has increased 2 percent, on average, so far in September. The largest gains were in northern and western Illinois where moisture levels rose 11 and 13 percent, respectively. Soil moisture fell 9 percent in the south to a regional average of 0.19 water fraction by volume on September 14.

Small increases were also seen at 4- and 8-inch depths. Moisture levels at 20 inches and greater remained high with little change since last month.

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 at the WARM website (http://www.isws.illinois.edu/warm/).

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