As heavy rains continue to fall throughout Illinois, many rivers continue to push higher into flood stage. In Morris, the Illinois River level reached more than 19 feet, with anything over 16 considered moderate flood. Further downstream at Peoria, flood forecasts estimated river levels would break 27 feet. In Meredosia, levels had already broken into the major flood category by Monday.
The Mississippi river levels were reaching similar high water marks, with gauges from Canton South to Clarksville reading minor to moderate flood stage, and levels at Hardin continued to push higher into the major flooding category.
Statewide rainfall averaged 3.61 inches, 2.5 inches more than normal, leaving just 0.8 days rated as suitable for fieldwork according to United States Department of Agriculture. Continued precipitation has kept the fields wet as well, with topsoil moisture rated as 56% surplus and subsoil moisture as 43% surplus.
The 2015 soybean crop is now rated at 91% complete, just a single percentage point gain from the previous week, and behind both 2014 and the five year average, with both at 96%.
Crops still look good throughout much of the state however, with 70% of the corn rated as good or excellent, and 60% of soybean receiving the same ratings.