Weeks of sometimes torrential rainfall have improved drought conditions in much of the Chicago area, according to the Illinois state climatologist.

       Previously, the entire metro area except the very south and southwest parts were in anywhere from moderate to extreme drought, based on the National Weather Service’s U.S. drought monitor, Illinois state climatologist Trent Ford said Thursday.

       O’Hare International Airport is still well below normal for rainfall for the year, with 13.73 inches of rain in 2021, against a normal for the first six moths of the year of 18.75 inches, according to preliminary National Weather Service data. But June, which normally sees 4.1 inches of rain, saw 6.78 inches of rain at O’Hare International Airport, according to the weather service.

       “Overall for the Chicagoland area, we saw across the board improvement,” said Ford, with total moisture shooting back up to near-normal conditions. Stream flow has gone up above normal, as the whole area has received rain.

       A weekly detailed report on state drought conditions from the National Weather Service released Thursday showed that the percentage of Illinois in some level of drought or abnormally dry conditions went from about 38% in the week ending June 22 to about 25% in the week ending Tuesday. None of the state is in what’s known as “exceptional drought.”

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       Most of the southern half of the metro area is now moving out of drought and “looking really good,” according to Ford.

       “I wouldn’t expect continued drought impacts in the southern half of the metro area if we get near normal July rainfall,” Ford said.

       The southern edge of the metro area is out of drought conditions, as the area has had closer to normal rainfall in recent months.

       Counties farther north have picked up less rainfall. The area is in much better shape now than it was a week ago, but because the soil is so dry, even an inch to an inch and a half of rainfall will sink in very quickly.

       “We really need consistent weeks of near to above normal rainfall in that area to see really consistent improvements,” Ford said.

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       Areas that received heavier rain, like DuPage, Will, Cook and Kendall counties, which received 5-6 inches, did not see as much as a benefit, as when rainfall is heavy after extended drought conditions, some of that rain runs off instead of sinking into the soil.

       If normal rainfall persists in July and August, conditions will continue to improve, Ford said.

       mmokh@chicagotribune.com

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