Meteorological Summer in Chicagoland

Meteorological Summer is having a bit of a slow start this year for Chicagoland. Meteorological Summer consists of the full months of June, July, and August, which for us meteorologists, makes for much easier record-keeping.

Good news: we did get some beneficial rainfall in the last couple of days, which is helpful this part of the year for the tail end of planting season. Yesterday, we only received a few hundredths of an inch at our airports, though. We remain under moderate drought conditions from the USDA’s weekly Drought Monitor that is released each Thursday.

Recent Weather Patterns

We did snap our mid-week cool spell with highs in the seasonally average of upper 70s both Friday and Saturday, and we’ll do it again today.

Notice those yellow bars on the top of each calendar day– we’ve been living with wildfire smoke from Canada for a week plus now around the Great Lakes, including Chicago.

Air Quality and Wildfire Smoke

Air quality is showing signs of improvement today, though a few pockets of air quality considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’ in city neighborhoods on the inner west and southwest side still exist (as of late the very early afternoon). The incoming front will scour out a lot of that hazy air this afternoon with gusty SW winds.

Summer Solstice and Day Length

We’re already having our longest days of the year right now, with our sunsets well past 8p until the second week in August. Summer solstice is on the 20th this year, when we see more than 15 hours of daylight. Fun fact: our earliest sunrises happen just before the solstice, and our latest sunsets happen right after solstice.

Weather Patterns and Jet Stream

This spring has been a bit unsettled and cooler than average– and we’ll likely see this back-and-forth pattern for several more weeks with our wavy jet stream pattern over North America.

Great Lakes Water Temperatures

Water temperatures in the Great Lakes are slowly rising for us. Water takes much longer than air to heat up–and hangs onto heat much longer into the fall. We’re already seeing some water temps in the low 60s along the Chicago shore. We’re still solidly in the ‘cooler by the lake’ season, though. And water temps are still chilly enough that even on hot days, it’s a good idea to use caution around the cold lake water. Water temps below 70 degrees can fatigue even the strongest of swimmers.

Hot Days and Temperature Records

Speaking of hot days, we’re overdue for several of them. We usually see 5 days of 90 or warmer in the month of June, and we’ve only seen one since the year started at O’Hare.

We’re also playing catch up on days above 80 degrees– and we’ll likely see several above 80 this week and maybe one above 90. Though, even on those hot days, we’ll still be cooler by the lake.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Meteorological Summer is off to a slow start in Chicagoland, with moderate drought conditions and cooler-than-average temperatures. However, we’re expecting a warm-up in the coming weeks, with several days above 80 degrees and possibly one above 90. It’s essential to stay informed about the weather and take necessary precautions, especially when it comes to air quality and water temperatures.

FAQs

What is Meteorological Summer?

Meteorological Summer refers to the full months of June, July, and August, which are used for record-keeping purposes by meteorologists.

What is the current drought condition in Chicagoland?

Chicagoland is currently under moderate drought conditions, according to the USDA’s weekly Drought Monitor.

How will the jet stream pattern affect the weather in the coming weeks?

The wavy jet stream pattern over North America will likely lead to a back-and-forth pattern of cooler and warmer temperatures, with several weeks of unsettled weather ahead.

What is the current water temperature in the Great Lakes?

The water temperature in the Great Lakes is slowly rising, with some areas already reaching the low 60s along the Chicago shore.

What precautions should be taken when swimming in cold lake water?

It’s essential to use caution when swimming in cold lake water, as water temperatures below 70 degrees can fatigue even the strongest of swimmers.