Champaign, Ill., 3/2/18: The statewide average precipitation (rain and water content of snow) was 5.0 inches in February, 2.9 inches above normal and the wettest February on record, according to Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel of the Illinois State Water Survey at the University of Illinois.

This year’s February precipitation beat the old record of 4.4 inches set in 2008. Statewide records go back to 1895.

The highest reported monthly precipitation total was in Streator with 11.45 inches, followed by Cobden with 10.88 inches. Northern Illinois and far western Illinois received 3 to 5 inches of precipitation.

The largest monthly snowfall total was at Aurora with 26.0 inches. The second highest total was Chicago Heights with 25.5 inches.

While northern Illinois experienced between 10 and 25 inches of snowfall, which was above normal for February, the rest of the state saw little snow. Areas south of Springfield reported less than an inch for the month.

The statewide average temperature for the month was 31.2 degrees, only 0.3 degrees above average. However, the range of temperatures was impressive, Angel said. The warmest daily high temperature was 83 degrees at Belleville on February 15. The coldest daily low temperature was -16 degrees at Fulton on February 7.

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Media Contacts: Jim Angel, Ph.D. (217) 333-0729, Fax: (217) 244-0220, jimangel@illinois.edu; Editor: Lisa Sheppard (217) 244-7270, sheppard@illinois.edu