Dry weather has been the norm for the region. Forecasters say the precipitation expected next week might not be enough to reach truly healthy levels.For the first half of June, northern Illinois usually has about an 1.5 inches of rain. But that's not the case this year. Forecasters say we're well below the average. That follows the small amount of significant rain showers during the month of May.
Amy Seeley, with the National Weather Service office in Romeoville, says there doesn't appear to be a big change in the forecast in the immediate future, even though there's a "possibilty" of rain over the weekend.
"Our next chance of precipitation is not even a great chance," Seeley said, " so it's going to continue to be pretty warm and pretty dry."
Despite the recent weather, Seeley says the region has not reached drought stage just yet. She says it's under what's called an abnormally dry period. However, forecasters say we could be pushed closer to a drought, with drier weather patterns predicted for the summer.