The statewide average temperature in January was 31.4 degrees, 5 degrees above normal, and the 14th-warmest January on record, according to Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel of the Illinois State Water Survey, part of the Prairie Research Institute at Illinois.
Above-normal temperatures in January spanned the state and the eastern half of the U.S. The statewide average precipitation for the month was 2.16 inches, 0.09 inches above normal. In general, the eastern and northern parts of the state were wet, and the west and south were drier than normal.
Snowfall in January was almost nonexistent in Illinois, falling less than 1 inch in many locations, and well below normal statewide.
The Climate Prediction Center predicts an increased chance of above-normal temperatures in February. For the most part, Illinois has equal chances of above-, below- or near-normal precipitation in February. The short-term forecasts out to 14 days suggest wetter-than-normal conditions. It’s not clear if that will translate into more snow or just more rain if it is accompanied by mild temperatures.
