MARCH WEATHER WAS PRETTY MILD IN ILLINOIS.

AVERAGE TEMPERATURES IN FEBRUARY WERE IN THE 20'S, BUT LAST MONTH WAS A DIFFERENT STORY. PRELIMINARY FIGURES SHOW TEMPS AVERAGED NEARLY 46 DEGREES IN MARCH SAYS STATE CLIMATOLOGIST TRENT FORD.

PRELIMINARY NUMBERS SHOW LAST MONTH'S AVERAGE STATEWIDE TEMPERATURE WAS NEARLY 46 DEGREES, LIKELY MAKING IT THE 13TH WARMEST MARCH ON RECORD IN ILLINOIS. THAT'S QUITE A WARMUP FROM FEBRUARY'S 20 DEGREE AVERAGE. STATE CLIMATOLOGIST TRENT FORD SAYS RAINFALL VARIED ACROSS THE STATE, WITH SOUTHERN ILLINOIS SEEING THE MOST AND NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS MISSING OUT.

FORD SAYS THE UPCOMING WARMING TREND IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE SECOND WEEK OF APRIL.