The Chicago area logs its fifth 80° high of 2005 Tuesday amid gusty WSW winds. Only three years since 1990 have hosted more by May 10. The tally puts the area ahead of its 135 year average of three 80s by this date.
Monday’s 77° official high followed the mildest morning minimum (62°) here since the Sept. 15 low of 68°.
Fast-moving, northbound t-storms swept parts of the Chicago area Monday, prompting a severe t-storm watch and producing some 40+ m.p.h. gusts. The storms doused some areas with welcome rainfall—including 0.62” at Aurora and 0.59” to the north in Waukegan. Only 0.15” fell at O’Hare while Midway Airport’s 0.21” total marked the South Side’s first measurable rain of the month.
Warm weather dominated more of the U.S. than in recent days. Laredo, Texas broiled at 101°—the hottest U.S. temperature this year to-date.
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
