Well, folks, Chicago weather has been on a rollercoaster ride lately. Last week, we were sweating bullets as we experienced a scorching 94-degree day, the earliest in 76 years. But fast forward to this week, and we’re back to bundling up with hats and coats under our umbrellas. Yep, you guessed it – our afternoon temperatures have been stuck in the 50s. Surprisingly, this isn’t as unusual as you might think.
When it comes to Chicago’s weather patterns, the average last day with a high below 60 degrees is typically around May 23. While we’ve been breaking records this week with temperatures dipping as low as 40 to 42 degrees, these records date back to the late 1800s and early 1900s. The sudden shift from scorching heat to chilly winds may seem odd, especially after hitting 94 degrees just a week ago on May 15. But hey, that’s Chicago for you – always keeping us on our toes.
Now, the big question on everyone’s minds is when will things start heating up again? Well, here’s a fun fact for you – Chicago hasn’t seen a daily high in the 50s during June since 2001. So, it’s safe to say that this prolonged chill won’t be sticking around for much longer. According to long-range forecast models and the Climate Prediction Center, we can expect a shift towards warmer temperatures as we transition from May to June. While we may have to endure another week or so of below-average temperatures in the 60s, a jet stream “ridging” is on the horizon, set to bring a significant temperature boost around May 30 and beyond. So, get ready to swap those coats for shorts because we could be looking at a stretch of 80-85 degree days in the first week of June. And hey, the Climate Prediction Center is even forecasting above-average temperatures and slightly more precipitation for the next three to four weeks. Looks like summer is just around the corner, folks!
