Report: April soil moisture level high in Illinois

CHAMPAIGN - Illinois officials say the level of soil moisture is high across Illinois.

The University of Illinois' Prairie Research Institute said Wednesday soil moisture levels were measured on April 14 by the Illinois State Water Survey.

The levels averaged 37 percent by volume at 2 inches deep across the state. The highest levels measured were in southern Illinois - an average of 43 percent of moisture by volume.

Conditions were wetter at the deeper depths. Moisture levels averaged 41 percent by volume at 20 inches and 44 percent at 59 inches.

Officials say soil temperatures dropped slightly with this week's cooler weather. Soil temperatures at 4 inches under bare soil averaged 51.3 degrees. That was 7 degrees colder than on April 12.

Data is collected at 19 stations across Illinois.