Drought in Illinois, August 1 to 31, 2005

Name: Drought in Illinois, August 1 to 31, 2005
Start: 2005-08-01T00:00
End: 2005-08-31T23:59
Location: Illinois

August 1 to 31, 2005 · NWS LOT · 16 events in 16 counties and zones

Drought conditions continued across much of northern Illinois during August 2005. Much of Illinois was declared an aqriculture disaster area in early August.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 14 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 16

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS LOT wrote it up.

Drought conditions continued across much of northern Illinois during August 2005. Much of Illinois was declared an aqriculture disaster area in early August. Outdoor water restrictions and bans continued in many locations. Several wells dried up in Kempton Township in Kane County. The cities of Elgin and Aurora use water from the Fox River. Due to low flow and high temperatures, there were problems with high algae content. Some wells also dried up in parts of Lake County. River levels were too low on the Illinois River to handle barges which carry the crops.The Spring and Summer months of 2005 were the 4th driest on record at Chicago Ohare Airport and Rockford Airport. At Chicago Ohare, 10.18 inches of rain was recorded. Normal rainfall during this 6 month period at Chicago is 21.47 inches. At Rockford Airport, 12.92 inches of rain was recorded during the Spring and Summer. Normal rainfall during these months at Rockford is 23.15 inches.Some locations received above normal precipitation for August 2005 from very localized heavy thunderstorms. Many locations received below normal precipitation including, Aurora in Kane County, 1.42 inches; Chatsworth in Livingston County, 1.60 inches; Marseilles in LaSalle County, 1.72 inches; Ottawa in Lasalle County, 1.89 inches; Dwight in Livingston County, 1.90 inches; Plano in Kendall County, 1.96 inches; Morris in Grundy County, 1.98 inches; Bourbonnais in Kankakee, 2.00 inches; Wheaton in Dupage County, 2.08 inches; Lansing in Cook County, 2.09 inches; Joliet in Will County, 2.12 inches.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Chicago, IL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 31, 5:28 PM CST, 6 hours 32 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 31, 5:28 PM CST, 6 hours 32 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
628 PM CDT SUN JUL 31 2005

.AVIATION DISCUSSION FOR 00Z TAFS...

QUIET VFR WX TO CONTINUE THROUGH TAF PERIOD. PATCHY MID/HIGH DEBRIS
CLOUDS FROM OLD IA CONVECTIVE COMPLEX AND MID LEVEL SHORT WAVE
TROUGH SHOULD GRADUALLY DRIFT SOUTH OF THE FORECAST AREA THIS
EVENING. CONDITIONS NOT AS FAVORABLE FOR RENEWED MCS DEVELOPMENT
TONIGHT UPSTREAM OF IL/IND...WITH WEAK SUBSIDENCE DEVELOPING BEHIND
SHORT WAVE TROUGH...MUCH WEAKER LOW LEVEL JET...AND SLOWLY RISING
HEIGHTS ALOFT. THUS...EXPECTING LESS MID/HIGH CLOUD COVER ACROSS
TERMINALS LATER TONIGHT INTO MONDAY THAN WE HAD TODAY. LITTLE MORE
THAN A FEW HIGH BASED CU IN 6-8 KFT RANGE EXPECTED BY MONDAY
AFTERNOON.

FOR WINDS...AS EXPECTED NO LAKE BREEZE THIS AFTERNOON WITH GRADIENT
WINDS REMAINING SOUTHWEST. WILL SEE TYPICAL DIURNAL DROP OFF TO LESS
THAN 10 KTS AND SLIGHT BACKING THIS EVENING TO 180-200 DEG.
SOUTHWEST GRADIENT LOOKS TO MAINTAIN ITSELF MONDAY...THOUGH SOME
MODEL DISAGREEMENT WITH GFS DECREASING STRENGTH OF WIND FIELD BY
MONDAY AFTERNOON. NAM MEANWHILE KEEPS STRONGER GRADIENT WHICH WOULD
KEEP ANY LAKE BREEZE WELL EAST OF ORD/MDW. WILL LEAVE OUT FOR
NOW...AND ALLOW FOR CLOSER LOOK IN FOLLOWING ISSUANCES.

RATZER

&&

.DISCUSSION FOR AFTERNOON ZONES...
CI FROM STORM ACTIVITY IN IA PUTTING A LTL FILTER ON HEATING BUT
WINDS A LTL MORE STIFF THAN ANTICIPATED...CURBING LAKE BREEZE AND
ADDING WAA INFLUENCE TO PUSH TEMPS TO NEAR 90.

LIKELY TO SEE SOME SCT-BKN AC TONGT FROM DEBRIS IN PLAINS AND HAVE
UPPED LOWS TNGT TO ARND 70 UNDER FAIR TO PTCLDY SKIES. THIS AC
PROBLY AROUND DURING MRNG MONDAY BUT ALSO MOVING OUT BY AFTN. WINDS
APPEAR A LTL LIGHTER MONDAY SO LAKE BREEZE MORE LIKELY. WITH MORE
SUNSHINE AND 8H TEMPS STILL AROUND 20...CUD SEE LOW TO MID 90S BEING
MORE REASONABLE THAN TDA.

WITH RIDGING OFF TO EAST...THESE CONDS LIKELY TO REPEAT THEMSELVES
TUE AND WED WITH PRESS GRADIENT TIGHTENING AGAIN WED AS SHORT WAVE
DROPS DOWN INTO THE NRN PLAINS. MODELS APPEAR TO BRING PCPN CHANCE
FOR THURSDAY NIGHT A LITTLE SOONER NOW. AM STILL LEAVING IT FOR THU
NGT BUT EARLY THU NGT AND ENDING IT A LITTLE EARLIER TOO ON FRIDAY.

SHORTLIVED COOLING SPELL FRI AND SAT AFTER FROPA AS TEMPS RETURNING
TO MID 80S AGAIN SUNDAY IN PREPARATION FOR ANOTHER SHORT WAVE
MONDAY.

&&

.WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
.IL...NONE.
.IN...NONE.
.LK MI...NONE.

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 31, 3:00 PM CST, 9 hours before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
400 PM CDT SUN JUL 31 2005

ILZ003>006-008-010>014-019>022-023-032-033-039-INZ001-002-010-011-
019-011100-
WINNEBAGO-BOONE-MCHENRY-LAKE IL-OGLE-LEE-DE KALB-KANE-DU PAGE-COOK-
LA SALLE-KENDALL-GRUNDY-WILL-KANKAKEE-LIVINGSTON-IROQUOIS-FORD-
LAKE IN-PORTER-NEWTON-JASPER-BENTON-
400 PM CDT SUN JUL 31 2005

THIS PORTION OF THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL
AND NORTHEAST ILLINOIS...AND NORTHWEST INDIANA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN... MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

AN AIR POLLUTION ACTION DAY HAS BEEN DECLARED FOR MONDAY. STAGNANT
AIR SETTLING OVER THE MIDWEST WILL BE ACCUMULATING OZONE AND
PARTICULATES TO UNHEALTHFULL LEVELS.

THERE WILL BE A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH
FRIDAY MORNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NECESSARY.

&&

COMPLETE FORECAST INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE
NWS CHICAGO WEBPAGE: WEATHER.GOV/CHICAGO (LOWER CASE)

LMZ740>745-766-011100-
WINTHROP HARBOR IL TO MICHIGAN CITY IN-
LAKE MICHIGAN-
400 PM CDT SUN JUL 31 2005

THIS PORTION OF THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE ILLINOIS
AND INDIANA WATERS OF LAKE MICHIGAN.

.DAY ONE... TONIGHT

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN... MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

THERE WILL BE A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH
FRIDAY MORNING.

&&

COMPLETE FORECAST INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE
NWS CHICAGO WEBPAGE: WEATHER.GOV/CHICAGO (LOWER CASE)

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

16 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Boone

When: August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Boone forecast zone
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 42.323, -88.823 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Cook

When: August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Cook forecast zone
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Drought, De Kalb

When: August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: De Kalb forecast zone
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 41.894, -88.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Du Page

When: August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Du Page forecast zone
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 41.852, -88.086 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Grundy

When: August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Grundy forecast zone
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 41.285, -88.418 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Kane

When: August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Kane forecast zone
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 41.939, -88.429 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Kankakee

When: August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Kankakee forecast zone
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 41.138, -87.862 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Kendall

When: August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Kendall forecast zone
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 41.591, -88.429 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, La Salle

When: August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: La Salle forecast zone
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 41.344, -88.886 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Lake

When: August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Lake forecast zone
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 42.349, -87.862 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Lee

When: August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Lee forecast zone
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 41.746, -89.300 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Livingston

When: August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Livingston forecast zone
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 40.892, -88.558 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, McHenry

When: August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: McHenry forecast zone
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 42.324, -88.452 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Ogle

When: August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Ogle forecast zone
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 42.043, -89.321 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Will

When: August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Will forecast zone
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Drought, Winnebago

When: August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Winnebago forecast zone
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 42.336, -89.161 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Drought: A drought reaching severe (D2) or worse on the US Drought Monitor, or with notable impacts.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Illinois in 2005 Every state in 2005 This day in weather history Warnings in Illinois, August 2005

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5475709, 5475710, 5475711, 5475712, 5475713, 5475714, 5475715, 5475716, 5475717, 5475718, 5475719, 5475720, 5475721, 5475722, 5475723, 5475724.