The summer’s tenacious drought has been a disaster for area farmers, and has left lawns and gardens parched and dry. But, in terms of weekend weather which cooperates with outdoor activities, 2005 has few recent meteorological peers. Measurable rain has fallen on only three weekend days—15 (83% of them) have been dry. And the rains which have fallen on the weekend have been negligible—totaling only 0.43”! But heat has been the big story. All but one of the nine weekends currently on the books have been warmer than normal. Summer weekends have produced highs averaging 6.5 degrees above normal, including 2005’s hottest single temperature: 102° on July 24. Readings have exceeded 90° on six of the 18 weekend days of summer to date.
The humidity decline responsible for comfortable conditions Friday continues Saturday. But humidities begin creeping higher Sunday ahead of a new hot spell due next week.
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
