Climatologist says August warmed up in Illinois

The Illinois state climatologist says that after a cooler-than-usual July the summer finally turned warmer in August. And the season has been one of the wettest on record.

Climatologist Jim Angel said Tuesday that the statewide average temperature in August was 73.9 degrees. That's just above the average for the month and about 3.6 degrees warmer than July's 70.3 degrees. The July figure tied the coolest July on record for the state.

Angel says statewide average precipitation for August was 5.18 inches. That's 1.59 inches above average.

The statewide average rainfall for the three summer months of June, July and August has been 14.96 inches. That is the 10th wettest summer on record.

Angel noted that the warmer August was good for the state's crops.