Drought in Cumberland, Illinois

Due to a multi-month precipitation deficit dating back to Fall of 2025, and continued below normal precipitation during February, drought conditions worsened and became Severe (D2) during the month. The Severe Drought (D2) persisted through the end of the month.

A drier than normal winter concluded with one of the driest Februarys on record across central and southeast Illinois. In Lincoln, only 0.08 inches of rainfall occurred during the month. Dating back to September 2025, precipitation deficits of 6 to 10 inches were common across the region. Severe (D2) to Extreme (D3) Drought conditions worsened during February 2026, with a notable uptick in reported impacts and community restrictions (such as water rationing and burn bans). Streamflows, water levels, and soil moisture content ranged from well below normal to near record lows.