Science & Nature
Summer 2025 Wasn’t as Hot as It Seemed, Wrapping Up With Below Normal Temps
Sunset along Chicago's lakefront, Aug. 21, 2025. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News)
Summer is over, meteorologically speaking, and it was fairly unremarkable, weather-wise.
Despite a long stretch of hot and humid days early in the month, August as a whole finished with below normal temperatures, according to the Chicago office of the National Weather Service.
Chicago’s average high temperature in August, as measured at O’Hare Airport, was 81.6 degrees, which is .9 degrees below normal. The mean average temperature for the month was 73.3 degrees, or .5 degrees below normal.
(National Weather Service)
The entire season was slightly warmer than normal owing to a blistering start in June, which tied for the sixth hottest since record-keeping began in 1872.
That uncommonly hot June led to an overall seasonal average high temperature of 83.9 degrees, or 1.4 degrees above normal.
Although localized downpours led to flash flooding in some parts of Chicago, precipitation for the entire summer season finished at 12.95 inches, or .89 inches above normal.
Not a single Top 10 seasonal record was set for Chicago in summer 2025, according to the weather service.
September is kicking off with an approaching cold front and will feel more like October, so go ahead and break out the pumpkin spice.
(National Weather Service)
Contact Patty Wetli: [email protected]
