Illinois, 2023

Drought in Illinois, October 5 to 24, 2023

October 5 to 24, 2023 · NWS PAH · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

Drought conditions in the Upper Midwest and Central Plains, with widespread Severe Drought (D2) or worse, resulted in significantly reduced river flow along the Mississippi River during the fall. 58 feet at New Madrid, Missouri at 11pm CST October 15th.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 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
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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

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 PAH wrote it up.

Drought conditions in the Upper Midwest and Central Plains, with widespread Severe Drought (D2) or worse, resulted in significantly reduced river flow along the Mississippi River during the fall. While local drought conditions were D0 in the 10/3, 10/10, and 10/17 drought monitor updates along the Mississippi River in the NWS Paducah county warning area, and D1 drought only added to far Western Kentucky 10/24, water levels reached a preliminary record low of -6.58 feet at New Madrid, Missouri at 11pm CST October 15th. River levels were at their lowest along the Mississippi River from around October 5th to October 24th. River transportation was significantly hindered due to low water levels, with frequent dredging necessary to keep levels sufficiently deep. Tower Rock became reachable on foot again as it did during last years' low water levels.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Alexander

When
October 5, 12:00 AM CST to October 24, 12:00 AM CST
Where
Alexander forecast zone
Reported by
River/Stream Gage
Coordinates
37.192, -89.338 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Union

When
October 5, 12:00 AM CST to October 24, 12:00 AM CST
Where
Union forecast zone
Reported by
River/Stream Gage
Coordinates
37.471, -89.255 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Jackson

When
October 5, 12:00 AM CST to October 24, 12:00 AM CST
Where
Jackson forecast zone
Reported by
River/Stream Gage
Coordinates
37.785, -89.382 (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

More

Every storm in Illinois in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, October 2023

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1144223, 1144224, 1144225.