The first five months of this year in Illinois will go down in the books as the third wettest on record.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources reports the monthly statewide precipitation has been above average five times this year, with precipitation during May averaging 5.8 inches. That total is an inch-and-a-half above average, and makes last month the 20th wettest May on record.

The average precipitation between January and May in Illinois was 22.2 inches, which is 7 inches above average. Record keeping began in 1895, and only 1898 and 1927 were wetter than this year's total for the first five months. The result of all the rain this spring is saturated soils, standing water in many farm fields and flooding.

However, Jim Angel, state climatologist with the Illinois State Water Survey in Champaign, says there are some benefits to the rain that's fallen this year.  "...everything is green and lush...short-term benefits to all this (precipitation)"

Meanwhile, May statewide temperatures averaged 59 degrees, or 4 degrees below average. The state department of natural resources says the cooler weather last month continued a pattern of below-average temperatures since February.

February through May of this year was the 18th coolest on record at 44 degrees, which was 3 degrees below average.