CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Soil moisture levels are slightly above normal in Illinois for the middle of May, according to Jennie Atkins, Water and Atmospheric Resources Monitoring (WARM) Program Manager at the Prairie Research Institute, Illinois State Water Survey, University of Illinois.

Soil moisture levels at 2 inches averaged 0.33 water fraction by volume (wfv) across the state on May 13, or 13 percent above normal.  Moisture levels were highest in the south with an average of 0.41 wfv or 22 percent above normal.

Higher moisture levels were also measured at deeper depths, averaging 0.40 to 0.44 wfv at depths from 19 to 59 inches.

Soil temperatures for May 13 were slightly below normal at depths of 4 inches below bare soil, averaging 60.0° F or 4° F below normal.  The highest temperatures were measured in southern Illinois where temperatures averaged 60.7° F.  Temperatures averaged 60.3° F and 58.3° F in central and southern Illinois, respectively.

 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). 

Maps of soil temperatures and moisture levels can also be found at the WARM website (http://www.isws.illinois.edu/warm/soiltemp.asp).