Strategic Communications and Marketing News Bureau

March rainfall in Illinois caused major flooding

Significant rain in March led to above-normal soil moisture in Illinois and major flooding events for many local streams and rivers, according to Brian Kerschner, a spokesperson for the Illinois State Climatologist Office at the U. of I.’s Illinois State Water Survey. 

The preliminary statewide average precipitation for March was 4.16 inches, 1.20 inches above the long-term average. Major and historic flooding on the lower Ohio River basin in southern Illinois continued into the first week of March, as a result of substantial February rain events.  

By the middle of the month, a strong and historic low-pressure system brought heavy rain, storms and strong wind to Illinois and the rest of the Midwest. The heavy rains and combined regional snow melt resulted in additional widespread flooding concerns across the region. This included a major flooding event for northern and northwest Illinois, with the Rock, Fox and Mississippi rivers experiencing significant crests.

The heaviest March precipitation fell across the central and southern portions of the state, where 4 to 6 inches was common. Five stations in these regions reported over 6 inches of precipitation for the month. 

Totals were lower in northern Illinois, ranging from 1.5 to 3 inches. The lowest totals for the month occurred along Illinois’ border with Wisconsin. The highest March precipitation total of 6.41 inches was reported at a station near Jerseyville in Jersey County.

Soil moisture profiles across Illinois remain in the 90th percentile or higher heading into April. This leaves soil conditions favorable for spring runoff, an ever-growing concern for the agricultural community.

Low temperatures began the first full week of March with a brutal arctic outbreak in which temperature departures of 15 to 25 degrees below normal were common across Illinois. During this time, three stations recorded minimum temperatures of -10 degrees or colder. The lowest reading in the state, -12 degrees, occurred at the Little Red School House station in Cook County on March 5.

In contrast, the warmest reading in the state was 76 degrees, reported at a station near Dixon Springs in Pope County on March 13.

Preliminary results show that March 2019 finished with a statewide average temperature of 36.6 degrees, which is 4.7 degrees below the long-term average.

March temperature departures finished below average statewide, with the coldest departures occurring across large areas of central Illinois and in the northwest corner of the state.

Snowfall in March occurred statewide, although it rarely lasted long. Storm tracks show that the maximum snowfall was near the corridor from Rushville to Springfield, and a second was centered near Kankakee. In both cases, 3 to 5 inches of accumulation were measured.

The National Weather Service spring flood outlook places the entire state in its flood risk zone. Eastern and central Illinois are subject to a minor flood risk, while western, extreme northern and southern portions of the state are in a moderate flood risk zone. Locations immediately along the banks of the Mississippi River are in a major flood risk zone.

Looking ahead at the rest of April, the Climate Prediction Center is favoring probabilities of above-average temperatures statewide. This is a welcome change compared with April 2018, which ranked as the second-coldest April in state history. An active weather pattern looks to persist, as the April outlook favors slight probabilities of above-average precipitation for the western half of the state.

Read Next

Humanities Diptych image with book cover of "The New Internationals" and a headshot of English professor David Wright Faladé

English professor’s novel tells of love triangle in post-WWII Paris, based on his family history

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A new novel by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign English professor David Wright Faladé tells the story of three people in a love triangle in post-World War II Paris. The characters in “The New Internationals” — a young French woman who has survived the Holocaust, a university student from West Africa and a […]

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 […]

Strategic Communications and Marketing News Bureau

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

Email: stratcom@illinois.edu

Phone (217) 333-5010