Heavy rain and flooding highlighted a wild month of June across the central portions of the Midwest. The wettest state was Illinois, where a precipitation record that has stood for over 100 years was broken, according to Bryan Peake, service climatologist at the Midwestern Regional Climate Center (http://mrcc.isws.illinois.edu), Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS).
Accumulated Precipitation (in.): Departure from Mean
June 1, 2015 to June 30, 2015
Illinois’ record rainfall of 8.71 inches, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) preliminary data, broke the record of 8.27 inches in 1902. This was more than twice the normal rainfall of 4.21 inches for the state in the month of June.
Unfortunately, the heaviest rainfall fell along the Illinois River, where major flooding occurred as monthly rainfall records were broken around the river. Preliminary river gauge records were broken in Meredosia and at the LaGrange Lock & Dam on the river, according to the National Weather Service Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS).
Some of the June precipitation records broken across Illinois were at Rushville (13.75 inches), Beardstown (10.68 inches), Canton (11.58 inches), Lacon (12.78 inches), Havana (13.75 inches), and Red Bud (10.55 inches) with many more stations receiving top five June precipitation totals for the month. Four of the top ten wettest Junes on record for Illinois (1895-Present) have occurred since 2010.
Heavy rain and flooding affected more than Illinois, however. Indiana sustained its wettest June on record at 8.20 inches, according to NCEI preliminary data, beating the 1958 record of 8.13 inches.
Meanwhile, Ohio had its fourth wettest June with 6.74 inches. While Missouri only had its 11th wettest June on record at 7.23 inches, record precipitation and flooding occurred in many areas across the state. The St. Louis, Missouri area had its wettest June on record at 13.14 inches.
According to the National Weather Service AHPS, river gauge records were preliminarily broken near Ewing, Missouri, where the Middle Fabius River established a new record stage of 26.38 feet and the North Fabius River established a record of 25.5 feet. A flash flooding event in Springfield, Missouri caused the James River to jump from five feet to a record 22.20 feet in less than 24 hours.
Unfortunately, more rain is expected to further stress flooded rivers in the months to come. The National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center is calling for a greater chance for above normal precipitation for the month of July and the summer season across the Midwest. With saturated soils in place, the Midwest is now vulnerable for a much larger major flood event.