Running dry: Month-to-date snow and precipitation lacking

 

The snow season got off to a very quick start late November and December, but things have really dried out over the last month and a half. For the month of February, Rockford has only received 0.1 inches of snow, putting us just over a seven-inch deficit for the month and nearly a 14-inch deficit since the start of Meteorological Winter. This places us within the top five least snowiest Februarys on record, month-to-date. And precipitation isn't far behind with only 0.11 inches for the month of February, a 1.24-inch deficit for the month and a 2.17-inch deficit since December 1st.

The hopes of any meaningful precipitation in the short-term look fairly limited. There were a few snow flurries, graupel, and very light rain showers that passed through in a scattered fashion across northern Illinois, but we look to remain mostly dry through the end of the week. There are a couple systems as we enter into the month of March that could bring us some precipitation, including the chance for some snow, but our overall precipitation chances are somewhat limited and depend on the track of these individual storm systems.

The lack in precipitation has led to drier than normal conditions, raising the fire risk when temperatures climb and the wind picks up. The latest drought monitor shows drier than normal conditions across much of northern Illinois, with moderate drought conditions across parts of Winnebago, Ogle, Lee, Whiteside, Carroll, Stephenson, and Jo Daviess counties. This also extends up into Green County in southern Wisconsin.

The further we get into the winter season, and closer to we get to spring, without much precipitation the bigger impacts that'll likely have on the planting and growing season. Going into the spring season in a deficit puts more stress on the ground, less moisture for the plants/crops to utilize while growing and can further increase the drought and heat during the spring and summer months. Ongoing drought conditions can also lead to longer stretches of heat during heat waves, further increasing the drought - along with the heat. It's cycle we do not want to get into this spring and summer.