•September 21, 2016•

Soil temperatures in Illinois are averaging three to five degrees above the long-term averages, according to Jennie Atkins, Water and Atmospheric Resources Monitoring (WARM) Program manager at the Illinois State Water Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois.

Higher air temperatures throughout the state have led to warmer soils.  On September 14, average temperatures ranged from 75.8 degrees at two inches under bare soil to 73.2 degrees at eight inches under sod.  Daily maximums are reaching into the upper 80s and low 90s as minimum temperatures remain in the mid-60s.  Overall, soils are averaging three to five degrees warmer than normal for the middle of September.     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.