Soil Moisture Ranks Within 99th Percentile in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin

It's no secret that the month of September was extremely wet across the Stateline. In Rockford, it was the 6th wettest September on record with a total of 9.10 inches of rain, and tied for the 7th warmest September on record since records began in 1906. The wet pattern has carried over into the first week of October with 1.71 inches of rain falling, a little over an inch above average.

The extremely wet pattern has had a big impact on local farmers. The Spring was wet and cold, pushing back spring planting with some fields not even getting planted. Now, with a wet start to the harvest season many are wondering when they're actually going to be able to get into the fields to start harvesting. All the recent rain has pushed soil moisture within the 99th percentile, with moisture running 5-6 inches above normal.

The good news for those whose fields aren't too wet, tomorrow and some of Thursday will be decent field work days. We'll see plenty of sunshine Wednesday with highs back into the low 70s. Clouds will increase Thursday with rain most likely holding off until the afternoon. Rain chances, and even thunderstorms, will increase Thursday night and Friday. Isolated showers are likely for the weekend, but it'll be a lot colder with highs only reaching the upper 40s, perhaps low 50s.