Spring 2018 had a cold first two months, highlighted by one of the coldest Aprils on record, which was also overall dry but snowy. The pattern flipped in May to very warm, with some areas receiving above to well above normal precipitation but others staying dry. | Spring 2018 snowfall was highly variable with respect to normal. |
May 2018 was very warm across the area. Rainfall was above to well above normal for northern areas, particularly in far northeast Illinois, and dry for southern areas. | May 2018 was the 3rd warmest May on record in Chicago and 4th warmest on record in Rockford. |
Locally well above normal precipitation resulted in Chicago having its wettest May on record, as observed at O'Hare International Airport. |
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Chicago IL 1012 AM CDT Fri Jun 1 2018 /1112 AM EDT Fri Jun 1 2018/ ...A Look Back at the Climate for Meteorological Spring (March, April, May) 2018 for Chicago and Rockford... At Chicago, the average high temperature for the spring season was 57.0 degrees, which is 1.5 degrees below the 1981 to 2010 normal. The average low temperature was 39.1 degrees, which is 0.3 degree above normal. The mean temperature for the season was 48.1 degrees, which is 0.5 degree below normal. A total of 12.67 inches of precipitation was recorded during this past spring, which is 3.11 inches above normal. There was a total of 5.8 inches of snow recorded at Chicago, which is 1.0 inch below normal. Top 10 Monthly Records established or tied during the spring months: March: None. April: 4th coldest April on record with 41.2 degrees. May: 3rd warmest May on record with 66.1 degrees. Wettest May on record with 8.21 inches. At Rockford, the average high temperature for the spring season was 58.0 degrees, which is 1.8 degrees below the 1981 to 2010 normal. The average low temperature was 36.9 degrees, which is 1.1 degrees below normal. The mean temperature for the season was 47.5 degrees, which is 1.4 degrees below normal. A total of 7.06 inches of precipitation was recorded during this past spring, which is 2.63 inches below normal. There was a total of 6.5 inches of snow recorded at Rockford, which is 0.8 inch above normal. Top 10 Monthly Records established or tied during the spring months: March: None. April: 2nd coldest April on record with 40.4 degrees. 6th driest April on record with 1.16 inches. May: 4th warmest May on record with 66.0 degrees. $$ Castro
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Chicago IL 949 AM CDT Fri Jun 1 2018 /1049 AM EDT Fri Jun 1 2018/ ...A Look Back at the Climate for the Month of May 2018 for Chicago and Rockford... At Chicago, the average high temperature was 76.4 degrees, which is 6.4 degrees above normal. The average low temperature was 55.9 degrees, which is 7.6 degrees above normal. The average temperature for the month was 66.1 degrees which is 7.0 degrees above normal. During the month of May, 8.21 inches of precipitation were recorded, which is 4.53 inches above normal. Four daily records were set for Chicago for the month of May 2018: * Record daily precipitation of 1.32 inches on the 2nd. * Record daily precipitation of 1.96 inches on the 21st. * Record daily maximum temperature of 97 degrees on the 27th. * Record tying daily maximum temperature of 95 degrees on the 28th. Two Top Ten Monthly Records: **3rd warmest May on record since 1872 with 66.1 degrees. **Wettest May on record since 1871 with 8.21 inches. At Rockford, the average high temperature was 77.7 degrees, which is 5.7 degrees above normal. The average low temperature was 54.6 degrees, which is 6.2 degrees above normal. The average temperature for the month was 66.0 degrees which is 5.9 degrees above normal. During the month of May, 4.68 inches of precipitation were recorded, which is 0.66 inch above normal. One Top Ten Monthly Record for the month of May 2018: **4th Warmest May on record since 1905 with 66.0 degrees. $$ Castro