Science & Nature
Spring Ended on a Chilly and Dry Note, With Drought Expected to Persist as Chicago Heads Into Summer
(Bert Kaufmann / Wikimedia)
Meteorological summer in Chicago is kicking off with a mini heatwave, following a chilly and dry end to spring.
According to the National Weather Service, the total rainfall for March-April-May was just 7 inches, or 3.69 inches below normal. Less than an inch and a half of rain fell in May, a far cry from the record precipitation Chicago experienced just five years ago.
Moderate drought conditions are now present throughout northeast Illinois and are likely to persist through June, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
(U.S. Drought Monitor)
On the temperature side, spring was overall slightly warmer than normal, but May’s average of 58 degrees was 2.6 degrees below normal.
Enjoy the warm-up Monday and Tuesday, with temps in the 80s before a cold front blows in Tuesday night.
The sun is out there, but smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to create hazy skies.
Contact Patty Wetli: @pattywetli | (773) 509-5623 | [email protected]
