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  • Trent Ford

    Trent Ford named new Illinois State Climatologist

    Aug 12, 2019 12:45 pm36 views

  • Researchers update Illinois standards for storm frequencies

    May 2, 2019 10:00 am1831 views

    As heavy rainstorms become more frequent and stronger than in the past, municipal drainage systems designed from outdated standards often fail, resulting in flooding and financial losses. Researchers at the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) have recently applied newer data to update ISWS Bulletin 70, the publication that provides the state standards for expected extreme storms.

  • Former State Climatologist Jim Angel & Water Survey staff honored at 2019 Celebration of Excellence

    Apr 11, 2019 7:45 am7 views

    Staff from the Water Survey were part of a team honored for their Outstanding Collaboration and former Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel received the Research Scientist’s Career Achievement Award at the Prairie Research Institute's 2019 Celebration of Excellence. 

  • Roadcap honored with CAPE Award

    Apr 10, 2019 9:30 am3 views

    Water Survey hydrogeologist George Roadcap is one of six academic professionals selected for a 2019 Chancellor's Academic Professional Excellence Award. His work modelling and assessing risks to the Mahomet aquifer was among the reasons for the honor.

  • Bitter cold in January likely won’t reduce field crop pests in the spring

    Mar 14, 2019 2:00 pm0 views

    Despite the record cold air temperatures, soil temperatures averaged slightly warmer than normal this winter. Consequently, the Arctic conditions are expected to have little effect on overwintering field crop insect pest populations.

  • Mt. Carroll reclaims the title for the record minimum temperature in Illinois

    Mar 6, 2019 11:30 am58 views

    An Arctic outbreak in late January 2019 led to widespread bitterly cold temperatures across much of the Upper Midwest, including Illinois. On the morning of Jan. 31, the cooperative weather observer at Mt. Carroll in Carroll County reported a temperature of -38 degrees, now validated as the new official state record minimum temperature.  

  • Survey seeks ideas to help specialty crop growers make pest control decisions

    Feb 19, 2019 9:00 am0 views

    Researchers at the University of Illinois’ Prairie Research Institute are developing new pest degree day tools for the state’s specialty crop growers. A short online survey offers growers the opportunity to contribute their opinions on how this information is delivered.

  • Illinois Climate Network marks 30 years of monitoring Illinois weather and soil

    Jan 31, 2019 1:15 pm4 views

    It’s been 30 years since the Illinois State Water Survey launched the Illinois Climate Network (ICN) to monitor the state’s weather and soils. The 19 ICN stations around the state collect data on wind speed and direction, air temperature, humidity, precipitation, barometric pressure, solar radiation, soil temperatures and soil moisture. 

  • four men and a woman standing in a lab

    Microplastic contamination found in common source of groundwater, researchers report

    Jan 25, 2019 7:45 am0 views

  • Brian Kerschner steps up to serve as spokesperson for weather and climate issues

    Dec 20, 2018 9:00 am5 views

    With the retirement of Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel, Brian Kerschner is stepping up to temporarily serve as the Illinois State Water Survey’s point person on weather and climate issues while a search is conducted for the new full-time Illinois State Climatologist.

  • sun setting over field

    ISWS participates in project to help predict air quality, enhance crop yields

    Sep 12, 2018 8:45 am1 views

    Tracking how air moves at night near the Earth's surface could provide insights into how air pollution spreads and when it's best to apply pesticides. This week, a team of University of South Carolina and University of Illinois researchers will launch a project to do just that. The two-month experiment -- called Stable Atmospheric Variability and Transport, or SAVANT -- will run from Sept. 15 to Nov. 15 in and near Mahomet, Illinois, and will measure air flow in what's known as a stable boundary layer.

  • Laura Keefer named Illinois State Hydrologist

    Jul 2, 2018 3:30 pm0 views
  • ISWS employee Hideyuki Terashima talks to two students

    ISWS staff take educational activities on the road

    Jun 4, 2018 2:15 pm0 views

    ISWS staff recently participated in events in Peoria and Springfield, helping Illinoisans learn about groundwater and private wells. 

  • hand in flowing stream of water

    Water Survey to receive $1M for rural outreach programs

    May 17, 2018 8:15 am0 views

    The Illinois State Water Survey will receive more than $1 million in funding through 2021 to support its drinking water outreach programs for private well owners and small, rural communities.

  • Network now monitors air temperature inversions in several locations

    May 14, 2018 9:15 am3 views

    Ag producers looking for up-to-the-minute weather information during planting season have a new tool at their disposal. The Illinois State Water Survey’s Illinois Climate Network (ICN) has just begun monitoring air temperature inversions at five stations: DeKalb, Monmouth, Bondville, Brownstown, and Carbondale.

  • rainwater hits the ground

    ISWS investigates the potential for stormwater credit trading in Cook County

    Feb 9, 2018 5:30 pm5 views

    In the Chicago region, rain and snowmelt often overwhelm sewer systems, causing street flooding and basement back-ups. Pollutants from sewer systems flow into nearby rivers and Lake Michigan. Even in areas with separate storm and sanitary sewers, overflow from severe storms carries pollution into the Chicago area waterways system, adversely affecting water quality and habitat. This problem is expected to worsen as climate change progresses and storms grow larger and more frequent.