The National Weather Service announced on May 3 that Chicago will experience more cold and rain following a brief period of warm weather. Temperatures reached near 70 degrees on Sunday, and Monday is expected to bring highs around 80, which the service said is warmer than the typical average high of 66 degrees for early May.
However, the warmer conditions are forecasted to end after Monday night when thunderstorms are predicted to move through the area. The National Weather Service stated that storms are likely between 7 p.m. and midnight on Monday, with some potentially severe storms bringing high winds and hail.
After the storms pass, temperatures in Chicago are expected to drop starting Tuesday. Highs for both Tuesday and Wednesday should be around 58 degrees, with low temperatures dipping into the upper 30s—well below the average low of about 47 degrees for this time of year. Cooler conditions are anticipated to persist until Saturday when highs may return closer to normal at about 66 degrees.
Chicago has already recorded significant rainfall this season. WGN-TV meteorologist Bill Snyder told Block Club that as of April 17, Chicago had seen ten inches of rain—the wettest start to meteorological spring in city history. According to Snyder, this total rivals what is typically observed over an entire spring season; meteorological spring runs from March through May.
The upcoming weather pattern highlights continued instability in local forecasts as residents adjust from unseasonably warm days back toward cooler temperatures.
