ACCORDING TO PRELIMINARY DATA, LAST MONTH WAS THE 10TH COLDEST FEBRUARY ON RECORD IN ILLINOIS.
IT'S PROBABLY NO SURPRISE BUT TEMPERATURES IN FEBRUARY AVERAGED JUST 20 DEGREES. THAT'S 11 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL SAYS STATE CLIMATOLOGIST TRENT FORD.
STATEWIDE PRECIPITATION AVERAGED ABOUT TWO INCHES IN FEBRUARY. FORD SAYS THE RECENT SNOW AND RAIN HAS HELPED IMPROVE SOIL MOISTURE CONDITIONS, ALTHOUGH PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN ILLINOIS REMAIN IN ABNORMALLY DRY TO MODERATE DROUGHT CONDITIONS.
FORD SAYS THE LONG TERM OUTLOOK CALLS FOR AVERAGE TO SLIGHTLY BELOW AVERAGE TEMPS AND ABOVE NORMAL RAINFALL.
