THE RECENT RAINS HAVE HELPED ALLEVIATE DROUGHT CONDITIONS IN ILLINOIS.

AFTER A WET WEEK, STATE CLIMATOLOGIST TRENT FORD SAYS THE U-S DROUGHT MONITOR SHOWS NO DROUGHT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE LAST AUGUST.

SEVEN DAY PRECIPITATION TOTALS RANGED FROM JUST UNDER HALF AN INCH IN NORTHEAST ILLINOIS TO OVER AN INCH AND A HALF IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN ILLINOIS SAYS FORD.

FORD SAYS MOST OF EAST CENTRAL AND NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS ARE STILL CONSIDERED "ABNORMALLY DRY" BUT THAT SOIL MOISTURE AND STREAM FLOW CONDITIONS ARE MOVING CLOSER TO NORMAL LEVELS.