June weather was hotter and drier than average

June temperatures in Illinois were above normal with a prolonged heat wave mid-month, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey. The rainfall was below normal for June.

The preliminary statewide average June temperature was 73.5 degrees, 1.6 degrees above the 1991–2020 average.

During the heat wave on June 13-18, temperatures reached 15-20 degrees above normal. High temperatures hit the upper 90s on multiple days and even broke 100 degrees at a few weather stations. Combined with humidity, heat index values approached 120 de...