Low precipitation continues to raise agricultural concerns, but some hope the drought will end as spring approaches.

Northern Illinois is still labeled as severely dry by the U.S. Drought Monitor, despite precipitation surpluses at the end of January.

Parts of Kishwaukee River dried last summer and showed the skeletal remnants of the cracked river bed and crops suffered.

According to Rosalia Britt, National Agricultural Statistics Service employee, DeKalb County yielded 146 bushels of corn for grain during 2005 as compared to 180 bushels yielded in 2004.

NIU Meteorologist Gilbert Sebenste said there is hope for the drought to finally end.

“January 2006 will go down as the warmest January ever in DeKalb, with above average precipitation that broke a streak of 10 months with below average precipitation,” he said.

The monthly climate summary from NIU’s weather service states that DeKalb received 2.92 inches of precipitation in January, which is almost double than expected.

However, most of the precipitation fell as rain, and there is little snow cover in the area.

As a result, there is less moisture storage available for release into the soil later in the spring, according to reports from the Illinois Drought Response Task Force of the Illinois State Water Survey.

The Illinois Water Survey reports that the soil has recharged to near normal conditions in the top 20 inches of soil, and groundwater during January raised 1.7 feet higher than December.

Illinois Climatologist Jim Angel said since 1895 Illinois has been branded the 11th driest state, and all we need is a nice wet spring to end this drought.

But is heavier precipitation a possibility this spring?

Studies show the Gulf of Mexico’s water temperatures and severe weather reports in April are directly linked and the Gulf’s water temperature is much warmer than normal, Sebenste said.

With the humid air masses fueling thunderstorms from the south, and the jet stream flying directly above Illinois; it is probable to see heavy precipitation throughout February and the spring, he said.