If farmers are planning for an early harvest in September, things could be a little cooler but the National Weather Service says to plan on a warmer than normal October.

Farmers could be in the field as soon as next week, if not by the middle of the month and for those farmers, things will probably be a little cooler this year. Chris Miller at the National Weather Service in Lincoln indicates they are still looking at a warmer than normal October.

Things have been very dry in central Illinois the past month and Miller is not seeing a reprieve on the way. He explains the saving grace could be a tropical storm in the south and its remnants reaching the midwest.

August was cool and dry. Miller indicates there were areas of central Illinois that were up to two-inches below normal for precipitation.

According to Miller, August is already a very dry month anyways and to add receiving only an inch or two of rain in some places, there are some very dry fields in Illinois right now.

The flash drought of August happening for the sixth time in 20 years is significant. Miller explains those six times are among the top ten driest months on record since the late 1800s in Illinois.

Central Illinois could get a brief relief from the dry weather later this weekend when chances of rain increase. Miller adds things are also expected to cool down heading into next week.