By Andi Anderson
Illinois is facing a rapidly intensifying drought as a dry summer shifts into fall, creating serious challenges for farmers and communities.
Central and southern parts of the state are experiencing some of the driest conditions in decades, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford of the Prairie Research Institute.
Rainfall has been scarce since late summer, with rivers such as the Kaskaskia, Sangamon, and Mackinaw dropping near or below low-stage levels. August brought almost no rain to parts of southern Illinois, including the western St. Louis Metro East area.
The lack of moisture and mid-August heat triggered a “flash” drought that quickly dried soils and vegetation, raising the risk of fires and blowing dust during harvest.
This late-season dryness follows an unusually wet spring. Through August, 2025 ranks among the top 20 wettest years on record in some southern counties, including Lawrence and Massac.
In contrast, east-central Illinois has endured an exceptionally dry year overall, with Champaign County recording its 12th driest year to date—seven inches below normal—and the driest start since 1988.
Soil moisture has dropped sharply. Measurements at the Illinois Climate Network station in Brownstown show 4-inch and 8-inch depths falling well below the wilting point after a July downpour of more than five inches in just 12 hours.
The rapid decline has reduced root zone moisture and stressed crops, speeding up dry-down and threatening yields in the hardest-hit areas.
Groundwater supplies are also shrinking. The Illinois State Water Survey’s WARM station in Peoria reported a five-foot drop in the water table between July 1 and September 1.
Experts caution that without significant rainfall, drought conditions could worsen, impacting agriculture, local water resources, and rural communities as harvest season continues across Illinois.
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Categories: Illinois, Weather