•April 26, 2017•

Warmer weather across the state has led to higher than normal soil temperatures, according to Jennie Atkins, Water and Atmospheric Resources Monitoring (WARM) Program manager at the University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey.

Soil temperatures rose steadily over the first half of April, increasing 11.5 degrees during the first 15 days. At depths of four inches under sod, temperatures averaged 54.9 degrees for the period, 4.4 degrees higher than the long-term average.

Temperatures increased across Illinois throughout the first half of April. Highs in the 60s were recorded throughout the state, reaching into the low 70s at several locations. Southern Illinois saw the highest temperatures with a regional average of 63.3 degrees on April 15. The lowest were in the north where temperatures averaged 57.6 degrees.     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.