The last Mother’s Day with a high temperature in the 50s was just four years ago, and that fits Chicago’s climatology, which says in one out of every four years the second Sunday in May will have a high temperature in the 50s. Records also show that just as often on the second Sunday in May, highs warm into the 70s. The “average” high for Mother’s day is 66(degrees), but there is a tremendous 50(degrees) range from a high of 39(degrees) observed in 1981 to an 89(degrees) recorded in 1986 and again in 1956. With a low pressure system stymied over the western Great Lakes the last four days forecast to continue to slowly drift east, Chicago’s string of days with high temperatures below 60(degrees) may well reach five before readings hit the mid 60s Tuesday. 70(degrees) is possible Wednesday before a change back to cooler conditions the remainder of this week. Latest computer models hint at development of a band of heavy rain early the following week, centering on NE Illinois May 23.
———-
Tom Skilling is chief meteorologist at WGN-TV. His forecasts can be seen Monday through Friday on WGN-TV News at noon and 9 p.m.
WGN-TV meteorologists Steve Kahn, Richard Koeneman and Paul Dailey plus weather producer Bill Snyder contribute to this page.
