Lincoln, Illinois – Dry soil across central Illinois is raising early spring concerns after Lincoln logged just 0.08 inches of precipitation in February, marking the driest February there in 120 years of recordkeeping.
According to the National Weather Service office in Central Illinois, the 0.08-inch total makes February 2026 the driest February on record in Lincoln, surpassing the previous record set in 1906. It also ties as the fourth-driest month of any kind in the city’s climate history. The driest month ever recorded in Lincoln was November 1933, when only 0.02 inches fell.
The unusually dry pattern stretches beyond Logan County, affecting much of central Illinois. With minimal snowpack and limited rainfall, topsoil moisture is declining heading into early March. Agricultural planners are monitoring conditions closely as planting season approaches, while fire officials warn that dormant grasses combined with low humidity could increase brush fire risk on breezy afternoons.
Drivers may also notice more dust in open rural areas, especially along stretches of Interstate 55 between Springfield and Bloomington.
Forecasters say upcoming systems will determine whether drought concerns deepen through early spring. Additional climate updates are expected later this week.
