2020 WAS WARMER AND WETTER THAN AVERAGE IN ILLINOIS.

STATEWIDE TOTAL PRECIPITATION WAS NEARLY 42 INCHES LAST YEAR. THAT’S MORE THAN FOUR INCHES ABOVE NORMAL AND MAKES LAST YEAR THE 23RD WETTEST ON RECORD IN ILLINOIS. STATE CLIMATOLOGIST TRENT FORD SAYS 2020 STARTED OFF WET ACROSS ILLINOIS AND A FEW AREAS SAW SOME WINTER DOWNPOURS.

MOST OF THE STATE GOT OFF TO A WET START IN 2020, AND CHICAGO WAS ESPECIALLY RAINY IN MAY.

THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR WAS MUCH DRIER, ESPECIALLY IN NORTHERN AND CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 2020 WAS THE 21ST WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD, WITH TEMPERATURES CLOSE TO TWO DEGREES ABOVE AVERAGE.