Drought Information Statement for Central and Southeast Illinois Valid December 18, 2025 Issued By: WFO Lincoln, IL Contact Information: nws.lincoln@noaa.gov The next update will be around Thursday, December 25th, 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, with little change this past week. Moderate precipitation fell across the area as snow the past week, with additional rain this upcoming week and extended range forecasts for above normal precipitation. 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, Edgar, and Vermilion 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: None Drought Improved: Portions of Logan, Macon, and Shelby Counties No Change: Most of central and southeastern Illinois Image Caption: One week change in drought monitor categories. Image from Drought.gov. Recent Precipitation Precipitation over the last week was slightly above normal across most of central IL (100% to 150% of normal) as a couple of winter weather systems impacted the area. Below normal precipitation, nevertheless, impacted areas to the south and north of the track of these storms. The past 30 days generally had a mix of slightly above and slightly below normal precipitation. Last 7 days and 30 days Image Caption: Total precipitation as a percentage of normal, as of December 17th. Left image is a 30 day average, right image the last 7 days. Images from Drought.gov. Temperature Average temperatures were slightly above normal during the month of November. Averages for the last week of November were slightly below normal. December (not pictured) has also had a colder than normal start across central and southeast Illinois. Image Caption: Average temperatures vs. normal, as of November 30th. Left image is a 30 day average, right image the last 7 days. Images from Midwestern Regional Climate Center. Summary of Impacts 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 2.8 feet below seasonal normals, Lake Shelbyville about 2.3 feet below normal, Lake Springfield 1.1 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 Voluntary 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 Sangamon and Wabash Rivers, as well as several smaller rivers in north-central, east-central, and west-central IL. Image Caption: USGS 7 day average streamflow HUC map valid December 17, 2025. Seven Day Precipitation Forecast Precipitation over the next week is expected to range from a quarter to 3 quarters of an inch in central IL, mainly from a cold frontal passage Thursday December 18, and mainly as rain. Image Caption: Expected rainfall over the next 7 days, valid through 6 PM Thursday, Dec 25. Check weather.gov/ilx for updated forecasts. Long Range Outlooks The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Above normal precipitation is favored for January (33% to 60% chance) across central IL for January. There are approximately equal chances for above or below normal temperatures for the month of January. 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 Drought is forecast to persist across portions of central IL through March, although with improving conditions. Drought is forecast to end for southern portions of central IL. Image Caption: Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook released Dec. 18, valid through March 31, 2026. Images from Drought.gov.