Heavy Rains Soak Southern IL
Wednesday, March 19, 2008


Heavy rainfall has fallen across southeast Illinois on March 18th and March 19th. The National Weather Service Office in Lincoln says rain was falling at many locations at the time of observation, so amounts will likely be higher. Flood watches and warnings are in effect for the southern half of Illinois today. Here are some storm total rainfall totals, as of 7 a.m. CDT March 19:

24-hour NWS Illinois Rainfall Map

Location Rainfall Report Time
Clay City 4SE 6.87" 608 AM
Clay City 6SSE 5.35" 630 AM
Olney 2S 5.21" 600 AM
Flora 5.20" 700 AM
Calhoun 5SE 5.15" 700 AM
Lawrenceville 5.08" 615 AM
Watson 5.00" 647 AM
Lawrenceville 1S 4.99" 700 AM
Hutsonville 4.53" 700 AM
Robinson 4.22" 700 AM
Lawrenceville Arpt 3.84" 653 AM
Effingham 3.70" 550 AM
Claremont 6N 3.68" 730 AM
Martinsville 3.68" 700 AM
Effingham 4WSW 3.64" 700 AM
Casey 3.63" 730 AM
Effingham 3SW 3.39" 700 AM
Neoga 3.26" 700 AM
Beecher City 3.12" 730 AM
Moonshine 3.00" 559 AM
Paris 2.53" 700 AM
Shelbyville 2.45" 700 AM
Mattoon 2E 2.39" 700 AM
Shelbyville Dam 2.33" 700 AM
Taylorville 2SW 2.09" 700 AM

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April Outlook from RFD Radio meteorologist Al Peterlin:

Dynamic Predictables

April 2008, like March, will be cooler than usual across the northern half of the continental U.S. There will be some variability in the Pacific Northwest, although it will still be on the cool side of average much like the Cascades. The southern half of the nation will experience near average temperatures.

April precipitation will be near average across the nation's midsection. Heavier than usual moisture is expected in coastal areas, including the Pacific Northwest, California, the eastern Gulf Coast and the Eastern Seaboard from Florida to New England.

"While not as extreme as March, April's weather-based energy demands will be stronger than usual especially from the Great Lakes to New England keeping some pressure on price, although economic conditions may be overriding." While considered outside the meteorological winter months, April still accounts for about 10% of the season's heating fuel demand in a normal year.

The sharp difference from daytime highs to overnight lows will force growers to continue to monitor grain storage bins for condensation collection along bin walls. Livestock stress levels will be elevated as the birthing season approaches, and moist soils will add to the discomfort. The dormant winter wheat crop will face some difficulties with episodic cold. Spring moisture in the Southern Plains will be about seasonal, but there is a current soil moisture deficit south, and heavier moisture would have been beneficial.

California planting and vegetable operations will enjoy typical temperatures, but the southern vegetable regions will see more showery interruptions in field work. The combination of moist soils and cooler than usual temperatures across the Midwest could mean a slow start to the planting season. Even where soils are firm and dry enough to work, cooler than typical soil temperatures could slow germination.

Cool temperatures could keep a chill on northern consumers, slowing spring buying hopes especially for early summer season clothes, even as the South celebrates warmer temperatures. There should be significant regional buying pattern differences from north to south this month.

This will be the wettest month of the year for the parched Southeast, but drought-ending conditions will not continue.