August traditionally brings lots of heat and often very dry conditions but this August has been just the opposite.

Ed Shimon at the National Weather Service in Lincoln indicates thanks to some tropical rain systems in the south, the heat has stayed west of the Midwest, creating a wet and cool month in Illinois.

August has been so mild, there were five straight days with highs in the 70s. Shimon says that is almost unheard of in Illinois in August.

Shimon also notes the rain of August has been very timely. There have been a couple of stretches where it dried out but then rained to revitalize the ground.

While the weather has been very pleasant, it won't last. Shimon says there is heat coming this week but another cool down on the other side of it.