Forecasters at the National Weather Service in Paducah, Kentucky say the southeastern Illinois region should experience quiet weather the next several days. The area should remain dry with a gradual warmup expected, with high temperatures into the lower 80s by later next week.
The longer range forecasts indicate warmer weather for the area with above normal temperatures expected through October 30th, according to the six to ten, 8 to 14 day and three to four week outlooks.
The latest U.S. Drought Monitor Map for the area shows Moderate Drought conditions have returned to parts of southern Illinois, with Clay, Richland and Lawrence counties now under Moderate Drought conditions, and the rest of southern Illinois Abnormally Dry.
The National Weather Service in Paducah, Kentucky has also released its climate summary for the month of September. They say the month was one of the warmest on record, with temperatures averaging seven to eight degrees above normal. They also said the Heat Advisory issued for September 15th through 19th was the latest for a Heat Advisory to be issued since 1995.