LAST YEAR WAS WARMER AND WETTER THAN NORMAL IN ILLNOIS.

2021 ENDED UP AS THE 10TH WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD IN ILLINOIS, WITH AN AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 53-POINT-SEVEN DEGREES. STATE CLIMATOLOGIST TRENT FORD SAYS THAT'S REMARKABLE SINCE LAST FEBRUARY WAS SO COLD.

FORD SAYS ALONG WITH THE MILD TEMPS CAME MORE SEVERE WEATHER LAST YEAR.

PRECIPITATION WAS A LITTLE BIT ABOVE NORMAL LAST YEAR, ALTHOUGH TOTALS VARIED WIDELY ACROSS THE STATE, ESPECIALLY IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS WHERE IT WAS VERY DRY MUCH OF THE TIME.