Heavy rains set records

Angie Faller
Effingham Daily News

July 09, 2008 11:51 am

— Record-high amounts of precipitation have plagued not only southeastern Illinois, but the entire state as well.
Monthly precipitation in Illinois has been above average every month in the first half of 2008, resulting in the wettest January through June since 1895, according to Climatologist Jim Angel of the Illinois Water Survey.
Angel said statewide precipitation in June was 5.8 inches or 1.7 inches above average. The January through June total precipitation was 27.7 inches, 8.3 inches above average.
The heavy rain and flooding has caused subsequent problems for area farmers.
“A lot of guys have had a lot of tough times in Effingham County. Everybody’s been having problems, and that’s transmitted into problems for farmers. Most guys I’ve talked to have replanted their corn at least once,” said Rob Kieffer, a resource conservationist at Effingham County Soil and Water Conservation District.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported June 30 Midwest farmers planted 87.3 million acres of corn in 2008, which is down 7 percent from 2007.
Having to replant crops is not the only problem the rainfall has left behind.
“It’s been really tough this year as far as erosion. A lot of people told me they have severe erosion, and some people who have been farming for 40 years told me that they have never seen washouts like this,” Kieffer said.
Angel also reported the highest monthly rainfall totals in June occurred near Lawrenceville with eight locations in that area reporting monthly amounts in excess of 10 inches.
“Surrounding counties have been just as bad. I farm with my father near Lawrenceville, and we had a hard time just getting into the field,” Kieffer said.
Although Kieffer encourages no-till farming and other soil conservation methods, he doubts those methods could have prevented erosion this year.
“This year was one of those years where it really didn’t matter. No-till helps with the water quality and does help prevent soil erosion, but a year like this, it’s just one of those odd years that doesn’t happen very often,” Kieffer said.
The National Weather Service reported preliminary June precipitation totals as high as 15 inches in parts of Clark and Crawford counties.
Jasper County broke several precipitation records for the month of June. The National Weather Service’s Web site said Newton reported 12.48 inches, breaking the old record of 9.68 inches set in 1942 by 2.6 inches. Ste. Marie reported 10.83 inches, breaking the old record of 9.49 inches set in 1957.
“We’re in a La Nina pattern, which made for a very wet winter which has continued up to this year,” said Kirk Huettl, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Lincoln.
The area may continue to see high amounts of rain in July as the National Weather Service is forecasting an increased chance of above-average precipitation for the month.
“The climate outlook for July is still above normal for most of Illinois and Indiana. After that, they (precipitation amounts) have equal chances of above or below normal, so that will carry on the rest of the year,” Huettl said.
Angie Faller can be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 131 or angie.faller@
effinghamdailynews.com.

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