(CHAMPAIGN) The Prairie Research Institute at the Illinois State Water Survey on the U of I campus in Champaign-Urbana has released its March weather statistics. While last month saw rollercoaster temperatures, setting numerous records, well above average precipitation helped improve the statewide drought conditions. In fact, the entire state was one to nearly five inches wetter in March compared to the 1991 to 2020 normals. March total precipitation ranged from around 2.5 inches in northwest Illinois to over 8 inches in parts of east-central Illinois, with the statewide average at 4.85 inches, making last month the 15th wettest March on record and the wettest March in Illinois since 1985. Temperature-wise, the average March reading was 47.3 degrees, nearly 6 (5.9) degrees above the 1991 to 2020 normal, 5.3 degrees above the most recent 30-year average, and tying it for the 9th warmest March on record dating back to 1895.
(OLNEY) At the WVLN-WSEI National Weather Service official weather station for Richland County, at the south edge of Olney, the March precipitation total was 5.97 inches, which included just a trace of light snow. The average high temperature at 64 degrees and the average low was 39 degrees. There were three new record highs set at the weather station in March.