July was wet and cool.

Rain to close July only added to the already above-normal rainfall totals in Illinois says Ed Shimon at the National Weather Service in Lincoln.

July was trending above normal for temperatures and dry - especially at the back end of the month. Shimon says the early rain zapped the energy needed to create those conditions.

There were some anomalies. Shimon notes there was a record low temperature at the Springfield Airport early in July and there was an increase in tornado activity.

Shimon notes August is usually the 'dog days of summer' and notes it is trending above normal for temperatures and below normal for precipitation.