Drier Weather Expected Next Week

It doesn't appear recent planting delays should drag on much longer.

After several rounds of showers, isolated thunderstorms and much cooler temperatures around the state this week, the forecast to kick off May calls for drier conditions and a return to more average temperatures.

“It looks like we’ll have an opportunity to dry things out (this week),” said Jim Angel, state climatologist with the Illinois State Water Survey.

And that means planting activity should pick up where it left off prior to the recent wet stretch.

After a very cool start to April, above-average temperatures the second half of the month propelled fieldwork into high gear at many locations.

“It (April) was really a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde month,” Angel said. “The first half of the month was very cool and there was not much fieldwork. But the second half of the month was quite warm, above average. We had some really good fieldwork days.”