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Water Survey

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  • Harvested cornfield with red combine in distance.

    Fall begins with a warm and very dry September

    Oct 8, 2025 8:00 am

    The preliminary statewide average September temperature was 68.8 degrees, 2.0 degrees above the 1991–2020 average and tied for the 27th warmest on record going back to 1895. The preliminary statewide total September precipitation was 2.60 inches, 0.75 inches below the 1991–2020 average and the 41st driest on record. 

  • Dry corn field

    Drought intensifying in Illinois

    Sep 11, 2025 5:30 pm

    An extremely dry end to summer and start to fall has intensified ongoing drought in central and southern Illinois and increased the fire and blowing dust risk as we approach harvest, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the Prairie Research Institute. River levels have dropped near or below low stage, including on the Kaskaskia, Sangamon, and Mackinaw, among others.

  • Dry soil shows cracks.

    August ushered Illinois from summer to fall

    Sep 5, 2025 6:45 pm

    Last month brought both summer and fall weather to Illinois, with daily average temperature departures from normal showing a roller coaster in August, which tied the ninth driest on record statewide, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the Prairie Research Institute.

  • Jenna Shelton sits by a river during a field research trip.

    Shelton named Illinois State Water Survey director

    Aug 14, 2025 4:30 pm

    Jenna Shelton recently joined the Prairie Research Institute as the new director of the Illinois State Water Survey. Shelton is a hydrobiogeochemist with 14 years of experience at the U.S. Geological Survey. She has a dynamic background of research and leadership, with expertise in strategic planning, machine learning, budgeting, the energy-water nexus, workforce development, stakeholder outreach, and international and Tribal Nation relations.

  • Heavy rain falls from storm clouds over fields.

    Staying ahead of intense precipitation in Illinois

    Aug 6, 2025 2:45 pm

    The Prairie State is no stranger to intense precipitation and consequential flooding. However, the frequency and intensity of rainfall have been increasing in recent decades, putting a renewed focus on the information, warning systems, planning and preparation needed to protect Illinois from the threat of intense rainfall.

  • Photo shows a stretch of highway flanked by fields with storm clouds above.

    June brought summer heat, storms

    Jul 16, 2025 8:45 am

    The heat wave in late June was extreme in both its intensity — especially nighttime temperatures — and its duration, breaking 14 daily high and 88 daily high minimum temperature records across Illinois, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the Prairie Research Institute.

  • Agricultural field with young green plants in rows stretching back to the horizon.

    Mild May wraps up otherwise warm spring in Illinois

    Jun 16, 2025 12:30 pm

    Despite milder May temperatures, the spring season was still a top 10 warmest on record in many places in the Midwest, including in St. Louis, Peoria, and Paducah, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the Prairie Research Institute.

  • Stream running through grassy area at sunset.

    Water survey to analyze flood risk in McHenry County

    Jun 3, 2025 3:30 pm

    The Illinois State Water Survey is continuing data development for the Kishwaukee River watershed as part of a multiple-phase study to help local communities identify areas of high flood risk for flood mitigation planning.

  • A stream curves through a sunny, grassy area with woods at far left.

    Water survey to analyze flood risks in Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Jasper, Lawrence counties

    May 23, 2025 3:45 pm

    The Illinois State Water Survey is continuing data development for the Embarras River watershed as part of a multiple-phase study to help local communities identify areas of high flood risk for flood mitigation planning.

  • Rain drops on glass

    Warmer April in Illinois

    May 8, 2025 10:00 am

    April broke records for being among the wettest on record in much of southern Illinois, which experienced an extreme rain event early in the month, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the Prairie Research Institute.

  • Innovative microwave sensors deployed on an unmanned aerial system over the I-FARM facility for soil and biomass sensing in 2024. Photo credit Mohamad Alipour.

    Center for Digital Agriculture, Prairie Research Institute partner to support joint agriculture research

    May 5, 2025 10:00 am

    The Center for Digital Agriculture and the Prairie Research Institute have partnered to offer seed funding for joint research projects.

  • Spring begins with very warm March

    Apr 10, 2025 8:00 am

    Last month was warm and stormy in Illinois, with the most tornado warnings on record for March and 33 tornado reports, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the Prairie Research Institute.

  • February’s roller coaster weather wraps up winter

    Mar 4, 2025 12:15 pm

    The month of February is known for bringing cold weather in Illinois, but it also often sees some of the biggest day-to-day temperature changes — as it did last month, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey.

  • January brought winter weather of yore

    Feb 4, 2025 9:15 am

    January temperatures were less mild than Illinois has become accustomed to, ending the month 4.4 degrees below the 1991-2020 average, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey.

  • The second warmest year on record

    Jan 15, 2025 9:00 am

    Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford has released the year-end climate analysis for 2024, which was the second warmest year on record in Illinois, with average temperatures between 1 and 6 degrees above normal.

  • Mild, wet start to winter

    Jan 8, 2025 8:00 am

    Day to day temperature variability in Illinois is highest in climatological winter and December followed suit with regular dips and jumps in daily temperature, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey.

  • Photo of a leaf with raindrops by nikolett-emmert, Unsplash.

    Warm, wet November wraps up fall

    Dec 18, 2024 8:15 am

    November wrapped up a mild, dry fall with more mild temperatures, including several warmer-than-normal days, to tie the 10th warmest November since 1895, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey.

  • Warm and dry, but enjoyable, October

    Nov 5, 2024 3:30 pm

    Most of last month was somewhat to extremely dry across Illinois, marking the state’s 10th driest October on record, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey.

  • Fall begins with warm September in Illinois

    Oct 4, 2024 11:30 am

    The first three weeks of September were extremely dry across much of the Midwest, with the remnants of Hurricane Helene providing drought relief for parts of Illinois, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey.

  • Hydrogeologist speaks at a conference.

    PRI shares water sustainability research with Illinois municipal leaders

    Sep 25, 2024 3:15 pm

    Municipal officials from across the state attended a panel session on water sustainability hosted by the Prairie Research Institute and Champaign County community leaders last week.

  • August caps off a mild summer

    Sep 5, 2024 8:00 am

    The final month of summer had mild temperatures, except for an intense heat wave in the final few days of the month, wrapping up a mild season overall, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey.

  • Another very weather-active July in the books

    Aug 7, 2024 11:15 am

    After a drier than normal June, Hurricane Beryl and an active, stormy July resulted in statewide precipitation of 7.01 inches, 2.95 inches above the 1991-2020 average and the third wettest on record, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey.

  • Lake Michigan coast

    PRI research targets coastal resilience and water planning challenges

    Jul 29, 2024 8:00 am

    PRI scientists are investigating how artificial reef complexes can stabilize shorelines and developing strategies to address water sustainability challenges and future water planning. These efforts aim to provide critical insights that will inform decision-making and improve environmental management in the southern Lake Michigan region.

  • 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.

  • Warm, active June kicks off summer

    Jun 28, 2024 1:30 pm

    In June, Illinois largely avoided serious drought conditions seen this time last year, thanks to abundant — sometimes surplus — precipitation in April and May. However, stretches of hot and dry weather have begun to quickly deplete soil moisture and drop stream levels in much of central and south-central Illinois, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey.

  • 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.

  • Soils are warm throughout Illinois in mid-April

    Apr 16, 2024 3:45 pm

    Warm weather has continued into April, impacting soil temperatures, according to Jennie Atkins, Water and Atmospheric Resources Monitoring (WARM) program manager at the Illinois State Water Survey.

  • eclipse

    Water Survey program to monitor weather effects of the solar eclipse

    Apr 3, 2024 8:45 am

    As the solar eclipse brings a spectacular show in the sky on April 8, viewers can also follow its path online as the Water and Atmospheric Resources Monitoring (WARM) program at the Illinois State Water Survey offers real-time monitoring of changing weather conditions during the event. 

  • Water Survey to analyze flood risks in Clinton, Fayette, Shelby, and Washington Counties, Illinois

    Mar 27, 2024 1:00 pm

    The Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) is collecting data within the Upper, Middle, and Lower Kaskaskia River watersheds as part of a multiple-phase hydrologic and hydraulic study to help local communities identify areas of high flood risk for flood mitigation planning. 

  • University of Illinois-Washington University team part of NSF’s program focused on equitable water solutions

    Mar 19, 2024 4:15 pm

    The National Science Foundation recently announced the awarding of 15 grants, totaling $9.8 million, to interdisciplinary teams under Track K: Equitable Water Solutions, focused on research to benefit society at large. The University of Illinois team, working with researchers at Washington University in St. Louis, received $650,000 for a one-year effort to further develop their idea of passive sampling of water quality at the tap.

  • Higher soil temperatures this winter foretell potential crop pest problems

    Mar 5, 2024 3:15 pm

    Winter 2023-24 has been warm throughout Illinois, creating conditions ripe for insects to overwinter, according to scientists at the Prairie Research Institute (PRI) at the University of Illinois.  

  • 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.  

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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. 

  • well water

    Coming soon: new hotline, website, and maps on private wells

    Nov 27, 2023 11:15 am

    A new hotline, website, and other resources will soon be available through the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) for private well and septic system owners and the water professionals that serve them. 

  • 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.

  • 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. 

  • Illinois soils are cooling in the first half of October

    Oct 18, 2023 9:30 am

    Soil temperatures have fallen 10 to 20 degrees so far in October, which is normal for this time of year.

  • 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.

  • Illinois soils are cooler and drier in mid-September

    Sep 14, 2023 2:15 pm

    Cooler weather in the past week has led to lower soil temperatures throughout the state in mid-September.


  • 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. 

  • Road salt

    ISWS wins Salt Symposium Chloride Reduction Leadership award

    Aug 30, 2023 10:00 am

    Starting in the late 1990s, the ISWS began assessing groundwater quality data in the Chicago region to determine how chloride concentrations might be increasing with time due to road deicing applications. It turns out almost all water resources in the region are being impacted. Because of these efforts and increased awareness, various counties and municipalities in the region now practice sensible salting, including pre-application of brines and training of operators. 

  • soils in cornfield

    Illinois soils have cooled in mid-August

    Aug 17, 2023 9:15 am

    A change in weather has cooled soils across Illinois in mid-August, according to Jennie Atkins, Water and Atmospheric Resources Monitoring (WARM) program manager at the Illinois State Water Survey.

  • July brought sweetcorn…and floods, drought, heat, smoke, and tornadoes

    Aug 3, 2023 1:45 pm

    In one month, Illinoisans experienced severe heat, lingering drought and flash floods, strong storms, and poor air quality. This was not your typical July, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the Illinois State Water Survey. 

  • Students take on watershed project in summer internship

    Jul 24, 2023 12:45 pm

    College students in a summer internship program at the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) are developing new skills in geographic information system (GIS) learning while tackling ways to map Illinois streamflow more accurately to inform soil conservation efforts. This on-the-job training will better prepare students for future studies and their careers.

  • Soil moisture has improved in Illinois

    Jul 19, 2023 9:30 am

    Illinois has received 3.41 inches of rain in the first half of July, 1.6 inches more than in the entire month of June, and leading to higher soil moisture across the state. 

  • Journal issue highlights the Water Survey’s past and present accomplishments

    Jul 17, 2023 2:30 pm

    The Illinois State Water Survey’s (ISWS) research and history highlights are featured in the June issue of the Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA), showcasing the importance of the survey’s latest studies related to water issues, particularly in addressing today’s challenges, and commemorating its 125th anniversary. 

  • Water Survey to analyze flood risks in DeKalb County, Illinois

    Jul 6, 2023 8:00 am

    Illinois State Water Survey hydrologic and hydraulic modeling in DeKalb County, Illinois, is underway as part of a study to help local communities identify areas of high flood risk for flood mitigation planning. The first phase of the project, data collection, is anticipated to begin in July 2023 and be completed in early fall 2023. In this phase, surveyors will conduct detailed channel and bridge surveys of streams in or near the community of Sycamore.