March 2018 Climate Summary for Central & Southeast IL

Overview

March saw below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation across central and southeast Illinois.  A predominant northwest flow across the Midwest, kept daily temperatures several degrees below normal for most days.  A few significant weather systems brought locally heavy rain to the area and pushed many rivers into flood.  While much of the area saw no snowfall in March, a late season winter storm brought heavy snow to locations along and north of I-74 on March 23-24. The mildest days during this month were on Thursday March 15th and Saturday March 31st.  Here are some highlights of two of the most significant weather events:

• March 19-20 Heavy Rain: Low pressure tracking from the Ozarks into Kentucky spread light rain into south-central Illinois during the late afternoon and evening of March 19th.  Due to a prevailing dry E/NE flow, the rain only managed to reach as far north as a Jacksonville to Sullivan to Danville line.  As temperatures cooled and additional evaporational cooling occurred, the northern fringe of the precipitation shield transitioned to a period of wet snow across west-central Indiana into far east-central Illinois around Paris toward midnight.  In fact, there was a report of 1.3 inches of snow between Danville and Paris.  The rain and snow came to an end overnight, with little or no further snow accumulation noted.
   
• March 23-24 Heavy Snow and Heavy Rain:  Low pressure tracking from the Ozarks eastward into the Ohio River Valley brought a swath of heavy snow to north-central Illinois from the late evening of March 23rd through the afternoon of March 24th.  The snow was primarily confined to locations along and north of the I-74 corridor in a narrow band measuring only about 75-80 miles wide.  Snow totals within the band ranged from 6 to 10 inches.   The heavy wet snow covered area roadways causing numerous accidents on portions of I-74, I-57, I-55, and I-39.  Further south...a mixture of rain, sleet, and snow occurred just south of I-74, with mainly rain across the remainder of central and southeast Illinois.  Rain totals of 1 to 2 inches were common south of a Jacksonville to Decatur to Paris line.   

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Precipitation, Snowfall, Temperature, and Departure from Normal Maps

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Climate Data

Links below are the monthly climate summaries for area cities. Only the summaries for Peoria, Springfield and Lincoln are considered "official", meaning they are the station of record for their respective locations. The other summaries are "supplemental", meaning another location in the area is the official climate station for that city.

• Peoria -- Peoria International Airport
• Springfield -- Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport
• Lincoln -- Lincoln NWS office
• Champaign -- University of Illinois - Willard Airport
• Decatur -- Decatur Airport
• Lawrenceville -- Lawrenceville-Vincennes International Airport
• Mattoon -- Coles County Airport

Climate data for other area cities is available at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=ilx