FALL IS OFF TO A COOL START IN ILLINOIS. 

TEMPERATURES HAVE BEEN A LITTLE LOWER THAN USUAL SAYS STATE CLIMATOLOGIST TRENT FORD.

SEPTEMBER STATEWIDE PRECIPITATION WAS SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL, AND VARIED WIDELY ACROSS ILLINOIS. THE U-S DROUGHT MONITOR SHOWS CENTRAL, SOUTHERN AND MOST OF THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE STATE AS ABNORMALLY DRY, WITH SPOTS OF MODERATE DROUGHT IN A FEW AREAS. 

FORD SAYS THE RAIN WAS WELCOME BUT ABNORMALLY DRY CONDITIONS PERSIST THROUGHOUT MUCH OF ILLINOIS. HE ADDS THAT IF YOU'VE NOTICED THE SKY OVER ILLIOIS LOOKING AN ODD MILKY-WHITE COLOR, THAT'S THE RESULT OF SMOKE FROM THE WILDFIRES OUT WEST MOVING ACROSS THE STATE.

FORD SAYS THE EIGHT TO 14 DAY OUTLOOK CALLS FOR WARMER AND DRIER CONDITIONS THAN NORMAL.