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Sunday is May 4, but warm and sunny weather won’t be with us, at least around Chicagoland.
Sit tight, though: The return of the sunshine isn’t far off.
As for Sunday, we’re looking at cool and cloudy conditions, with high temperatures only in the mid-50s inland and the lower 50s along the lake. That’s about 10 degrees cooler than normal for this time of year.
There’s also a band of morning showers in far southern Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana that will actually follow an uncommon east-to-west path, creating the chance for showers in other parts of Chicagoland later Sunday afternoon.
If you’re looking for any peeks of sun around the area, your best bet is in far northern areas.
Conditions begin to clear on Monday, however, and temps look to be more seasonably warm throughout the week, leading up to highs in the 70s in the early Mother’s Day weekend forecast (see more below).
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Here’s more behind what’s going on this weekend and what we’re expecting this week:
Why so cool this weekend?
The culprit behind the current weather pattern of extensive cloudiness, cool weekend temperatures, and occasional showers?
Two cut-off lows: One will spin across the Ohio River Valley and the other will be across the Southwest over the next several days. They sit beneath a ridge due to “Rossby wave breaking,” typical in spring as the jet stream slows down and is more inclined to buckle or retrograde.
“Rossby wave breaking” refers to the phenomenon where large-scale atmospheric waves tend to break and distort their shape, leading to significant impacts on the overall weather pattern and climate, particularly in the mid-latitudes. This breaking process can cause air mass mixing between high and low latitudes, influence precipitation patterns, and even contribute to extreme weather events like heat waves and floods.
This results in a cool pattern, with added clouds. Also, the Canadian air is advected southward around the mid-level trough circulations.
Rainfall forecast
Despite the cool, cloudy conditions, rainfall totals are expected to remain light around Chicagoland through the weekend.
The heaviest rainfall totals cumulatively will fall across the Ohio Valley and into portions of the Eastern U.S.
Believe it or not, we could actually use some more rain in Chicagoland right now, especially in northern counties, where drought conditions are starting to creep up.
Temperature anomaly through mid-week
A cooler than normal pattern across the nation’s midsection is tied to the “cut-off” low pressure system.
Temperature outlook
Temperatures will gradually warm, however, for almost everyone by the end of this forecast period. By late in the coming week, almost 300 million U.S residents will see at least 70-degree temperatures, with 70s nearly coast to coast.
Forecast temperature anomaly: May 9-15
The blocking pattern breaks down, and as a result warmer temperatures take hold across the Midwest and Eastern U.S.
Eta Aquarid meteor shower
The Eta Aquarid meteor shower, remnants of Halley’s comet, peaks this weekend and into next week.
8 p.m. sunset approaching
Daylight continues to lengthen, with the first 8 p.m. or later sunset only days away in Chicagoland!
May’s warming trend
Normal highs rise from 65 degrees on May 1 to 76 degrees by the end of the month, as we continue to move closer to summer.
We’ll see some of that warming trend this week, with the early forecast for the coming Mother’s Day weekend looking quite pleasant, as of now.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the weather forecast for Chicagoland is expected to be cool and cloudy on Sunday, with a chance of showers. However, temperatures will gradually warm up throughout the week, with highs in the 70s expected by the end of the week. The Eta Aquarid meteor shower is also expected to peak this weekend and into next week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the weather forecast for Sunday?
A: The weather forecast for Sunday is expected to be cool and cloudy, with a chance of showers.
Q: Will it rain on Sunday?
A: Yes, there is a chance of showers on Sunday, especially in the southern parts of Chicagoland.
