Drought in Massac, Illinois

A very warm April, with temperatures running 7-8 degrees F above normal, along with April precipitation around an inch below normal, and especially a soil moisture ranking near the 1st percentile following a record to near record dry winter, resulted in development of Severe (D2) Drought at the very end of April in the southernmost portions of Illinois. The late month start of D2 drought kept April agricultural impacts minor initially, though farm pond levels were very low and planting was ahead of schedule. Drought continued into May in far southern Illinois.