CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Soil temperatures across the state have been near normal on average so far this winter, according to Jennie Atkins, Water and Atmospheric Resources Manager at the Illinois State Water Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois.

Soil temperatures at 4 inches under sod averaged 38.6 degrees F across Illinois for the period of November 1 to February 15, normal for the time period.  Temperatures at 8 inches averaged 38.4 degrees F, 1.2 degrees below normal.

While the coolest temperatures have been measured in the northern portion of the state, the largest differences from long-term averages have been reported in southern and east-central Illinois with temperatures 2 to 3 degrees below normal for the season so far.

Soil temperatures have fallen with the colder weather the third week of February with temperatures at 4 inches under sod ranging from 29.9 degrees F in northern Illinois to 33.7 degrees F in the southern section of the state.

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/) and in the Illinois Water and Climate Summary (http://www.isws.illinois.edu/warm/climate.asp).