Drought Information Statement for Central and Southeast Illinois Valid December 4, 2025 Issued By: WFO Lincoln, IL Contact Information: nws.lincoln@noaa.gov The next update will be Thursday, December 11th, if conditions persist or worsen. Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements. Please visit https://www.weather.gov/ilx/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. Please visit https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates for regional drought status updates. Key Messages: Drought largely persists across the region, although some portions of central Illinois have seen modest improvements. Recent winter systems produced precipitation across the state, and this has prevented the drought from worsening. Precipitation is expected to be light, less than a quarter inch, over the next week. 1 U.S. Drought Monitor Drought Intensity and Extent: D4 (Exceptional Drought): N/A D3 (Extreme Drought): Portions of east-central Illinois including Piatt, Douglas, and Champaign Counties, and parts of Moultrie, Coles, and Edgar Counties. D2 (Severe Drought): Most of central Illinois near and north of a Schuyler to Edgar County line. D1 (Moderate Drought): Most areas along and south of a Cass to Clark County line. Also including portions of Knox and Marshall Counties. D0: (Abnormally Dry): Small area in southeast Illinois near the Wabash River in Lawrence and southeast Crawford counties. Recent Change in Drought Intensity One Week Drought Monitor Class Change. Drought Worsened: N/A Drought Improved: Across portions of central Illinois including areas south of a Rushville to Lincoln line. No Change: Portions of central and most of southeastern Illinois Image Caption: One week change in drought monitor categories. Image from Drought.gov. Recent Precipitation Precipitation over the last week was highest in areas west of I-57, as two winter events produced snowfall across these areas. Some of this precipitation is still in the form of snowpack, and has not made its way into the water supply yet. Much of central and southeast Illinois has seen below normal precipitation over the last month. Last 7 days and 30 days Image Caption: Total precipitation as a percentage of normal, as of December 3rd. Left image is a 30 day average, right image the last 7 days. Images from Drought.gov. Summary of Impacts Links: See/submit Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) and view the Drought Impacts Reporter Hydrologic Impacts Streamflow on most rivers is below normal, with most basins below the 25th percentile and several below the 10th percentile. Near record low flow on the east end of the Sangamon River basin is impacting water supplies of Lake Decatur downstream. Lake levels: Lake Decatur around 2.5 feet below seasonal normals, Lake Shelbyville about 2.7 feet below normal, Lake Springfield 3.0 feet below normal. Smaller lakes and ponds are low. Agricultural Impacts A business had to cancel wreath sales this year due to drought impacts on the evergreen crop. Fire Hazard Impacts None reported. Other Impacts Extremely poor to record low water table and deep soil moisture conditions. Mitigation Actions Stage 1 water rationing is in effect in Decatur. Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts Most streamflows are below normal, however the most significant streamflow impacts are on portions of the Illinois and Sangamon Rivers. Image Caption: USGS 7 day average streamflow HUC map valid December 4, 2025. Seven Day Precipitation Forecast A few disturbances could produce light wintry precipitation or rain over the next week. Precipitation over the next week is unlikely to meaningfully improve the drought conditions. Image Caption: Expected rainfall over the next 7 days, valid through 6 PM Thursday, Dec 11. Check weather.gov/ilx for updated forecasts. Long Range Outlooks The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage December is off to a cooler than normal start across central Illinois, and below normal temperatures appear likely to continue through at least the first half of the month. There is approximately equal chances for above or below normal precipitation for the month of December. Image Caption: Precipitation (left) and temperature (right) outlooks for December. Check weather.gov/ilx for updated forecasts. Drought Outlook The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage While the drought is forecast to persist through the end of the year, trends are pointing toward improving conditions over the course of the winter season. Image Caption: Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook released Nov. 30, valid through February 28, 2026. Images from Drought.gov. Links to the latest: Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook