Strategic Communications and Marketing News Bureau

Illinois has warmer, drier soils in mid-April

Warmer weather in the second week of April brought warmer and drier soils, according to Jennie Atkins, a manager for the Water and Atmospheric Resources Monitoring Program at the Illinois State Water Survey.

Bare soil temperatures, on average, rose more than 15 degrees during the week with statewide averages of 63 F for 2-inch depths and 61.5 degrees for 4 inches on April 16.  Temperatures under sod rose more slowly, with temperatures at the end of the week averaging 57 and 55.2 degrees at 4- and 8-inch depths, respectively.

Increases occurred across the state. Temperatures in southern Illinois rose 15.2 degrees, ending the week with a regional average of 63.7 degrees at 2 inches under bare soil. The coolest temperatures were in the north, where 2-inch temperatures averaged 60.1 degrees April 16.

Soil moisture levels decreased slightly with the warmer weather. Levels at a depth of 2 inches declined 13 percent, on average, the second week of April to a statewide average of 0.31 water fraction by volume. Levels at 4 inches also decreased to 0.32 wfv. No significant changes occurred at depths of 8 inches and greater, as levels remained near or above field capacity for most of the soils monitored.   

The program collects hourly and daily weather and soil information at 19 stations across the state. Daily and monthly summaries can be found at the program’s website and in the Illinois Water and Climate Summary.

Read Next

Life sciences Portrait of the research team posing together.

Minecraft players can now explore whole cells and their contents

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Scientists have translated nanoscale experimental and computational data into precise 3D representations of bacteria, yeast and human epithelial, breast and breast cancer cells in Minecraft, a video game that allows players to explore, build and manipulate structures in three dimensions. The innovation will allow researchers and students of all ages to navigate […]

Arts Photo of seven dancers onstage wearing blue tops and orange or yellow flowing skirts. The backdrop is a Persian design.

February Dance includes works experimenting with live music, technology and a ‘sneaker ballet’

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The dance department at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will present February Dance 2025: Fast Forward this week at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. February Dance will be one of the first performances in the newly renovated Colwell Playhouse Theatre since its reopening. The performances are Jan. 30-Feb. 1. Dance professor […]

Honors portraits of four Illinois researchers

Four Illinois researchers receive Presidential Early Career Award

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Four researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign were named recipients of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on young professionals at the outset of their independent research careers. The winners this year are health and kinesiology professor Marni Boppart, physics professor Barry Bradlyn, chemical and biomolecular engineering professor Ying […]

Strategic Communications and Marketing News Bureau

507 E. Green St
MC-426
Champaign, IL 61820

Email: stratcom@illinois.edu

Phone (217) 333-5010