The southeastern Illinois region should remain on the dry side the next several days and stay fairly warm, according to the National Weather Service in Paducah, Kentucky, although a slight cooldown is expected later this weekend and towards the end of next week. Only small chances of rainfall is in the forecast for the next week. Longer term forecasts favor warm weather continuing, with the six to ten and 8 to 14 day forecasts favoring above normal temperatures, and normal to a little below normal precipitation. The drier conditions have helped with harvest activities, which has gotten underway in some area corn fields in the past few days. Looking further ahead, the three to four week outlook and the 30 day outlook for the month of September indicates above normal temperatures favored and slightly below normal precipitation.
With the lack of rainfall in the region lately, area rivers are on the low side. The latest stages include: the Little Wabash River east of Fairfield at 4.46 feet. At Clay City 4.25 feet. At Carmi 2.4 feet. The Skillet Fork at Wayne City is at 4.99 feet. The Wabash River at Mt. Carmel is at 8.41 feet. Bonpas Creek at Browns stands at 1.24 feet. The Ohio River at Old Shawneetown is at 15.84 feet. All of the readings are well below flood stage.