November in Illinois was the sixth wettest November on record and the ninth warmest, according to Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel of the Illinois State Water Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  In addition, the drought in central and western Illinois has ended due to the above average rainfall.

The statewide average precipitation amount for the month was 5.23 inches, 1.9 inches above average.  Several sites in southern Illinois had over 9 inches of rain, including Cairo with 9.92 inches. 

The statewide average temperature was 45.3 degrees, 3.6 degrees above average. The warmest temperature reported in November was 80 degrees at Winchester on November 2. The coldest temperature reported was 16 degrees on November 30 at Altona, Mt. Carroll, and Monmouth.

The snowiest spot in the state was in far southern Illinois. A total of 2.5 inches of snow fell by the morning of November 30 at Grand Chain Dam on the Ohio River. A few sites in northern Illinois reported an inch or less of snow.

“The normal snowfall for November typically ranges from 1 to 2 inches in northern Illinois to no snowfall in southern Illinois–the near opposite of this year,” said Angel. “That’s why the weather in Illinois is so interesting.” 

The Illinois State Water Survey at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a division of the Prairie Research Institute, is the primary agency in Illinois concerned with water and atmospheric resources.