Thursday almanac: Fourth day of sub-60 degree temps is longest May streak on record

NOTE: This article is now an almanac of Thursday’s weather. We have published a new forecast story for Friday.

High temperatures warmed ever so slightly Thursday afternoon, reaching the middle to upper 50s for most of the metro area as the two-day cloudy streak finally came to an end by afternoon. These levels are still well below normal and more typical of early April than late May. 

Thursday marked the fourth consecutive day in which the mercury failed to reach 60 degrees. Since official weather observations have been taken at Midway or O’Hare (since 1942), this is the longest streak of late May temperatures below 60 degrees on record. The previous longest such streak was three days back in 2002.  

Thursday highs/Departures from normal across the U.S.

Unseasonably cool weather dominated the weather scene as highs across the Midwest and Northeast were uniformly well below normal.

New Drought Monitor in from USDA

Drought across the Chicagoland area has expanded to cover more of the metro area. The area now in moderate drought has nearly doubled over the past week despite recent rainfall.

May 2025 rainfall update

Even with rainfall earlier this week, May continues well below normal with the monthly total running at about 30% normal to date.