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Water Survey

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  • February Tornadoes Are Rare But Violent

    Mar 1, 2012 8:15 pm

    Harrisburg, Illinois was struck by a deadly tornado on February 29, leading to six reported deaths and widespread damage. While more common during spring and summer in Illinois, tornadoes sometimes occur in February, said Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel of the Illinois State Water Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

  • solar eclipse

    Researchers study weather and climate conditions during solar eclipse in Illinois

    Aug 16, 2017 3:45 pm

    Watching the sun disappear at midday during a solar eclipse is not only fascinating for viewers across the U.S., but the rare event also presents a unique opportunity for scientists to investigate weather-related changes in Illinois.

  • Study Shows Increasing Contamination in Chicago Area Groundwater

    May 28, 2008 1:30 am

    Since the 1950s, chloride (salt) levels in shallow groundwater have increased significantly in Cook and surrounding counties, indicating that the quality of groundwater resources needed to meet future growing demand is deteriorating, according to Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) researchers.

  • Study Shows NE Illinois Should Have Enough Water to 2050

    Jun 18, 2012 7:45 pm

    Water supplies in NE Illinois should be adequate for the next 40 years, yet communities should still analyze their own situations and work with neighboring communities to avoid conflicts in the years ahead, according to Scott Meyer, hydrologist with the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) at the University of Illinois.

  • bean field irrigator

    ISWS groundwater expert to participate in community forum on irrigation

    Aug 22, 2017 3:45 pm

    George Roadcap, a scientist at the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) and an expert on groundwater and the Mahomet Aquifer, will participate in a community conversation on irrigation sponsored by the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting from 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 24 at the Champaign Public Library.

  • Science in support of the Forest Preserves of Cook County developing the Natural and Cultural Resources Master Plan

    Jan 12, 2015 10:15 am

  • Early Warmth in 2012 and the Climatology of the Last Spring Freeze in the Midwest

    Mar 26, 2012 8:15 pm

    With warm weather seemingly stationary across the Midwest, many people are wondering if we have seen the last of freezing temperatures.  Climatology tells us that there is still the possibility for a late freeze, according to the Midwestern Regional Climate Center at the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS).

  • Soil Moisture Levels Increased in Southern Illinois with the Weekend Rains

    Aug 17, 2014 3:45 pm

    Soil moisture levels in southern Illinois increased over the weekend as the region saw more than 3 inches of rain at some locations, according to Jennie Atkins, Water and Atmospheric Resources Monitoring (WARM) Program Manager at the Illinois State Water Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois.

  • Warmer soils continue into July

    Jul 17, 2018 8:00 am

    Soils continue to be warmer than normal in mid-July, according to Jennie Atkins, Water and Atmospheric Resources Monitoring (WARM) Program manager at the Illinois State Water Survey, University of Illinois.

  • July was slightly cooler and drier than normal in Illinois

    Aug 1, 2018 2:15 pm

    The statewide average temperature in July was 75.1 degrees, just 0.3 degrees below normal, according to Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel of the Illinois State Water Survey at the University of Illinois. 

  • Midwest Sets Record Cold Temperatures in July

    Aug 4, 2009 11:15 am

    This was the coldest July on record for the nine-state Midwest region, based on preliminary temperature data. The average temperature for the region was 68.0 degrees, 4.7 degrees below normal. The previous record was 68.9 degrees in 1992, according to Mike Timlin, Regional Climatologist with the NOAA Midwestern Regional Climate Center (http://mrcc.isws.illinois.edu).

  • High Arsenic Levels in Well Water are Scattered Across Tolono Area

    Sep 6, 2011 9:15 pm

    Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) findings of a study on arsenic in drinking water from wells near Tolono, IL showed no discernable pattern of elevated arsenic levels except in the small subdivision south of Tolono where the safe drinking water issue was initiated, according to Walt Kelly, ISWS groundwater geochemist.

  • Warm October across Illinois Ranks among Top Ten

    Nov 7, 2007 7:30 pm

    "With temperatures in Illinois averaging 59.5 degrees, 4.8 degrees above normal, October was the 9th warmest since 1895," says State Climatologist Jim Angel of the Illinois State Water Survey (http://www.sws.uiuc.edu), a division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

  • Warmest March on Record for the Midwest

    Apr 3, 2012 8:15 pm

    March was the warmest on record for the nine-state Midwest region, based on preliminary temperature data.  The average temperature for the region was 50.3 degrees Fahrenheit, which breaks the previous record of 46.9 degrees set over 100 years ago in 1910, according to the Midwestern Regional Climate Center (http://mrcc.isws.illinois.edu) at the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS).

  • 2011 Midwest Summer

    Sep 6, 2011 9:15 pm

    Summer (June through August) in the Midwest was marked by above average temperatures, especially in July and early August, and extreme precipitation conditions.  Drought conditions occurred for half of the Midwest, while at the same time, several severe precipitation events resulted in flash flooding, breaking 17 all-time precipitation records, according to the Midwestern Regional Climate Center at the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS).

  • September in Illinois: Cooler and Wetter than Normal

    Oct 3, 2012 7:30 pm

    September was the first cooler and wetter than normal month in 2012, according to Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel of the Illinois State Water Survey at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign

  • When Will the First Fall Frost Arrive in Illinois?

    Oct 7, 2013 1:45 am

    While the actual date varies from year to year, Illinois farmers, landscapers, and gardeners anticipate the first fall frost in October, a sure sign that the growing season has ended.

  • Steve Wilson to serve on program advisory committee for National Environmental Health Association

    Nov 30, 2017 2:45 pm

    The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA), a professional society for environmental health practitioners with thousands of members nationwide, has invited Illinois State Water Survey groundwater hydrologist Steve Wilson to participate in its Program Advisory Committee, which helps set policy and direction for NEHA programs.

  • Walton R. Kelly, John Scott, Nancy Holm, Wei Zheng and Samuel V. Panno

    Microplastic contamination found in common source of groundwater

    Jan 25, 2019 7:45 am

    A new study by PRI scientists is the first to report microplastics in fractured limestone aquifers – a groundwater source that accounts for 25 percent of the global drinking water supply.

  • flooded intersection in Nashville, Illinois

    PRI's CHAMP program simulates floods to aid the Nashville, Illinois community

    Jul 27, 2024 9:45 am

    On July 16, Nashville, Illinois, experienced a severe weather event with 5 to 7 inches of rainfall in eight hours. This deluge caused the Nashville City Reservoir to overflow, resulting in impassable roads and the evacuation of around 200 homes. The PRI Coordinated Hazard Assessment and Mapping Program (CHAMP) used flood simulations to help the community understand the impact and improve preparedness for such events.

  • Another Mild February Ends Another Weak Winter in Illinois

    Mar 5, 2024 9:45 am

    Preliminary findings showed that February 2024 was the 3rd warmest and 4th driest on record back to the 1800s in Illinois, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey.  

  • Flood Terminology Can be Misleading

    Apr 2, 2009 7:00 pm

    We have heard the term "500-year flood" often in the news these days, and yet these extremely rare events seem to occur too frequently. Just last week, Fargo, ND experienced record flooding only 12 years after the 500-year flood in 1997.

    The problem is, people often have a misconception about flood-related terms, according to Jim Angel, state climatologist at the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  • Warm May wraps up very mild spring

    Jun 10, 2024 1:00 pm

    This spring was the fourth warmest start to any year on record in Illinois, and the summer has a high chance of above normal temperatures, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey.

  • Researchers track mercury in fish from Illinois streams

    Jul 29, 2013 2:15 am

    Mercury concentrations in small fish from Illinois streams have decreased since the turn of the 20th century, but mercury pollution persists in the environment, even in rural areas far from mercury sources, according to findings from a study conducted by scientists from the Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois.

  • December average temperature in top three for Illinois

    Jan 3, 2024 9:30 am

    Preliminary reports showed that December 2023 was the third warmest December on record, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey.

  • March started the spring season with rain and storms

    Apr 4, 2023 9:30 am

    In his blog, State Climatologist Trent Ford describes the March weather conditions in Illinois.

  • ISWS offers a flood assessment for critical facilities

    May 19, 2017 4:00 pm

    When a flood inundates a community, critical facilities such as hospitals and fire stations can lose electricity and equipment used to serve and protect citizens. A flood vulnerability assessment is now available for managers of critical facilities to identify their facility's susceptibility to flooding.

  • ISWS Engineer is Elected Chair of the ASFPM

    May 31, 2011 12:45 am

    Sally McConkey, Water Resources Engineer at the Illinois State Water Survey, has been elected Chair of the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM). She began her one-year term on May 19.

  • August wrapped up a mild and drier summer in Illinois

    Sep 1, 2023 2:45 pm

    The heatwave in late August was intense, but the average temperature and rainfall for the month were nearly normal based on long-term records, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the Illinois State Water Survey. Likewise, the summer season temperature was within 1 degree of normal with slightly drier conditions. 

  • Study Shows McHenry County Water Supplies May Not Suffice in Future

    Jan 7, 2014 4:15 pm

    Groundwater resources in McHenry County may be strained in 35 to 40 years, potentially causing local water shortages and detrimental effects to the ecology of local streams, according to Scott Meyer, hydrogeologist at the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS), a division of the Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois.

  • ISWS Provides Resources for Irrigation Reporting

    May 5, 2015 2:00 pm

    Starting this growing season, farm irrigators who use high capacity wells or intakes are required to report their water use.  The Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) has created a website to assist irrigators with this mandatory reporting process, according to Steve Wilson, ISWS groundwater hydrologist.

  • Drought takes hold after a warm and dry May

    Jun 6, 2023 8:30 am

    The typical May showers were largely absent for most of Illinois, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the Illinois State Water Survey. Most of the state ended the month between 1 and 4 inches drier than normal, with drought conditions affecting soil moisture and streamflow. 

  • El Niño Not Likely to Affect First Fall Freeze

    Aug 9, 2009 11:00 am

    A developing El Niño in the Pacific Ocean will likely not affect the first freeze this fall in the Midwest, according to Steve Hilberg, Director of the Midwestern Regional Climate Center at the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS), University of Illinois.

  • Cultivating Innovation: The Intersection of Geography, Climate, and Agricultural Research in Illinois

    Jan 31, 2024 8:45 am

    Since its inception in 2008, the Prairie Research Institute has conducted long-term monitoring of Illinois’ water, soil, and climate. These data, including growing and pest degree days, soil temperature and moisture, water table levels, and in-stream sediment, are used every day by thousands of Illinoisans and by the state’s agriculture, renewable energy, and construction industries.

  • Warmer January temperatures nearly broke records

    Feb 1, 2023 5:00 pm

    Illinois temperatures were above normal in January, preliminarily ranking the month as the sixth warmest on record, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey.

  • A wet and wild January finally brings winter to Illinois

    Feb 6, 2024 9:15 am

    Mild weather carried over from December into January in Illinois, when frigid temperatures and winter storms hit mid-month. Rain and snowfall in January took a big bite out of drought in the state, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey.  January precipitation tied for the eighth wettest January on record.

  • Mild February wraps up a weak winter

    Mar 2, 2023 4:45 pm

    February in Illinois was particularly mild, ending a winter season that was 2 to 6 degrees above normal, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey. February also brought wetter weather to the state.

  • October brought real fall to Illinois this year

    Nov 1, 2022 3:00 pm

    October in 2021 was warm and rainy, putting a damper on fall festivities in Illinois, but this year’s October did not disappoint fall lovers, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey. Temperatures and precipitation were below average.

  • Fall 2011 Precipitation in the Midwest: From Shortage in the West to Surplus in the East

    Nov 3, 2011 9:00 pm

    In the Midwest during the fall of 2011, precipitation was plentiful in the eastern Midwest but scarce in western parts of the region (meteorological fall is September through November), according to the Midwestern Regional Climate Center at the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS).

  • November puts an end to a warmer and drier fall

    Dec 4, 2023 10:15 am

    The average statewide temperature was above the 30-year average in November, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the Illinois State Water Survey. Precipitation was 2.34 inches below average, making it the eighth driest of that month on record. 

  • geologist Sam Panno explores Calf Cave in Joe Daviess County

    Jo Daviess County collaboration tackles water quality

    Dec 10, 2019 12:30 pm

    With its unique geology marked by sinkholes, crevices, and caves, Jo Daviess County is highly susceptible to water contamination. Scientists from the Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS) and Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) are using their expertise and collaborating with a local organization to help citizens understand water quality issues and protect their water supplies.

  • State Climatologist describes December's cold snap and warm up

    Jan 3, 2023 8:15 am

    The extreme temperatures and wind chill values that Illinoisans experienced before the holidays are very unusual for late December, only occurring in northern and central Illinois once every 20 to 25 years. In the last week of the month, high temperatures ranged from the low 50s to mid-60s, between 10 and 25 degrees above normal.

  • New Online Map Tracks Freezing Temperatures

    May 18, 2011 12:45 am

    The Midwestern Regional Climate Center (MRCC) in the Illinois State Water Survey, a division of the Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois, has provided a new tool for users to glean information on the occurrences of freezing temperatures to help assess the vulnerability of spring flowers and plants.

  • Increased risk of drought conditions in Illinois

    May 23, 2023 8:00 am

    Weather conditions have been dry in the past four to six weeks in parts of northeastern, western, and central Illinois. Forecasts for the next 7 to 10 days show very dry weather and above normal temperatures, which will likely worsen already dry conditions in the state and potentially cause rapid-onset drought conditions in some areas.

  • Warm Soils across Illinois in July

    Jul 18, 2017 3:00 pm

    Soil temperatures at depths of 4 inches under bare soil averaged 79.9 degrees on July 15, 2.1 degrees above the long-term average.

  • Illinois drought impacts continue into the fall

    Sep 14, 2023 2:30 pm

    Drought intensified again in Illinois at the end of the growing season, increasing the risk of fire and blowing dust as harvest approaches. River levels have also dropped near or below low stage, leading to navigation concerns.

  • September brought mild, dry conditions to Illinois

    Oct 3, 2022 3:00 pm

    Illinoisans experienced mild temperatures in the first half of September, followed by summer-like conditions and then a cooler week to finish off the month, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey. The average state rainfall amount was slightly below normal.

  • A mild October had a chilly end

    Nov 2, 2023 11:30 am

    Most of October in Illinois had above average temperatures, until a weather shift in the last few days of the month brought a shockingly cold Halloween and even snow in some areas, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the Illinois State Water Survey. 

  • A warming climate is evident in new winter plant hardiness map

    Nov 16, 2023 2:00 pm

    Changes in the new 2023 US Department of Agriculture’s plant hardiness map are strong evidence of global warming.

  • Regional Climate Models are Poised to Predict Future Climate of Illinois

    Nov 19, 2008 9:15 am

    While scientists have predicted for years that the global climate will change in the future, an atmospheric scientist at the Illinois State Water Survey at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign is working on a climate model at the regional scale to predict the impacts of climate change right here in Illinois.