This weekend may bring more of the same.
"It's real early at the moment but it looks like there's going to be a potential for some severe weather in the area," said Doug Tilly, a National Weather Service meteorologist.
In addition to a chance of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and early evening, Tilly said a strong storm system developing over the central plains should be passing through the metro-east Saturday night into Sunday.
Rainfall in the region has been above normal this year, with precipitation at Lambert International Airport at 20.92 inches as of 5 p.m. Thursday, 8.17 inches above the normal of 12.75 inches, according to meteorolgist Melissa Byrd.
The metro-east got 3.12 inches of rain near Scott Air Force Base from 7 p.m. Wednesday to 7 a.m. Thursday. Most of the rain fell Wednesday afternoon, totaling about 1.31 inches from about noon to 6 p.m., and again after midnight and into Thursday morning, totaling about 1.34 inches.
The stretch of Illinois 158 between Carlyle Avenue and Illinois 177 near Scott Air Force Base was closed when Loop Creek rose to cover the road, trapping a vehicle at about 10:30 a.m. Access to the base from Carlyle Avenue was not affected.
The Illinois State Water Survey, a division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, reports the year-to-date precipitation total to be 17.1 inches, making 2008 the third wettest year from January to April since 1895, when statewide records began.
Precipitation in the month of April alone measured 4.7 inches statewide, 23 percent above average.
Survey climatologist Jim Angel stated in a state Natural Resources Department news release that precipitation levels are negatively affecting the state's agricultural operations.
"The significantly above-average precipitation has caused widespread flooding of rivers and streams at times this winter and spring," Angel said. "Currently, wet soils and the lack of extended periods with warm, dry conditions have been blamed for planting delays throughout the state."
The survey also reported statewide temperatures averaging 51.4 degrees, 0.9 degrees below the average.
Tilly said cooler temperatures are typical with above-average precipitation, which is the case in the St. Louis and metro-east areas.
"We're still running on the cool side of seasonal averages from day to day," he said.
Cooler temperatures in the 60s are expected to continue through the end of the weekend, Tilly said. Saturday temperatures should be close to average in the mid-70s, but temperatures should cool off again by Sunday when highs should be in the lower 60s.
Contact reporter Rickeena J. Richards at rrichards@bnd.com or 239-2562.
