2016 WAS THE FIFTH WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD IN ILLINOIS.
THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE LAST YEAR WAS 54 POINT SEVEN DEGREES. THAT'S TWO POINT FOUR DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL SAYS STATE CLIMATOLOGIST JIM ANGEL.
ANGEL SAYS 2016 STARTED OFF WITH A WARM WINTER THANKS TO A STRONG EL NINO EFFECT.
PRECIPITATION LAST YEAR WAS ABOUT AVERAGE. ANGEL SAYS 2016 WOULD HAVE BEEN MARKED AS A DRY YEAR IF IT WEREN’T FOR RECORD RAINFALL IN JULY AND AUGUST.
