Weather officials are watching the impacts of Monday's rainfall as "flash drought" concerns have crept onto the radar.

Ed Shimon with the National Weather Service in Lincoln indicates local topsoil and subsoil moisture levels have drastically dropped following an incredibly dry May. 

According to Shimon, central Illinois critically needs to realize a solid inch to an inch and a half of widespread rain to build up baseline moisture reserves. Without that soaking layer, an upcoming intense heat spell will quickly vaporize any shallow surface moisture right out of the ground. 

The 8-to-14-day outlook shows a 40 to 50 percent probability for above-normal temperatures and a slight 33 to 40 percent trend toward above-normal rainfall, indicating the area could capture just enough periodic, short-term moisture to temporarily hold off expanding drought designations.

June concludes as a warm, humid month, carrying an average seasonal high in the mid 80s, with lows in the mid 60s, and just over four inches of total rainfall.

Shimon points everyone to weather.gov/Lincoln for the latest in weather data and upcoming forecasts.