Climatologist: Tuesday’s rain not enough to change drought monitor in Central Illinois

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Rainfall swept across much of Central Illinois Tuesday evening, and it was much needed. Areas in Central Illinois, like Champaign County, have been in a severe drought for weeks now.

Trent Ford, the Illinois State climatologist, said that while any rain is good rain, it wasn’t enough to see any real change in the drought monitor.

The rain was enough to dampen the top layer of soil. But, because Tuesday night’s rain was the most Champaign has gotten since July, it won’t seep past much more than that.

Rivers, like the Sangamon, are still unusually low. He said that it would take more rain to go deeper than the first layer of soil, to then run into the rivers and increase the flow.

Experts at the Champaign County Forest Preserve District said that between the ground soaking up Tuesday night’s rain, and the plants using it, not much made it to the river.

“We’ve seen less than an inch total in most of the watershed for all of September, so it’s actually going to take, probably, several inches of water for us to see a measurable difference in the river,” Michael Daab, Champaign County Forest Preserve District’s Deputy Executive Director, said.

Although the Sangamon remains low, and Champaign County is still in a drought, the
farmers benefitted. The rain temporarily lowered the chances for field fires, and the moisture is helping slow how fast their crop is drying out.