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THURSDAY NIGHT: Partial clearing, much lighter winds and a bit chilly for the season. Low 40s in the chilliest outlying areas. Low: 44.
It will be a cool start to the day Friday, not just across Chicagoland where Friday will begin with temperatures in the low to mid 40s, but also in parts of Minnesota and Michigan where low 30s will be common. Some areas will be frosty or near freeze.
While it won’t be totally cloud-free, there will be far more sunshine on tap Friday than in recent days. A welcomed change for sure as the center of High Pressure sits just to our south Friday afternoon bringing far quieter conditions.
Friday’s Forecast
The sun is warm this time of year and will go to work on the chilly air mass. Highs should top 60 degrees for most areas, even reaching the middle 60s southwest of Chicago, a level still well below the low to mid 70s considered normal for late May.
This is a 5-10 degree improvement over Thursday’s chilly readings. Winds will be fairly moderate, in the 10-15 mph range, with the strongest gusts east of Chicago.
Friday Sunburn Forecast
Despite the cooler than normal temperatures, it’s worth noting that the sun is more than 8-times stronger than the first day of winter. It only takes about 20 minutes to get a burn during peak time (1pm) according to Dr Bryan Schultz.
Friday Highs Across the U.S.
Looking for real summer heat? Highs will top out in the 90s and triple digits will be likely across the Southwestern U.S., portions of Texas and along the Gulf Coast into Florida.
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Looking Ahead
A quiet weather pattern is in place through the long holiday weekend with the next chance for showers coming on Tuesday.
The GIF below shows the evolution of approaching weather systems for the next 7 days. Repetitive thunderstorms will bring heavy rainfall totals to portions of the Central Plains, while here in the Chicago area amounts will be rather miniscule.
Forecast Highs and Departures from Normal for the Next Five Days
Some improvement is likely in coming days with no repeat of the chilly 50s, but highs will remain below normal well into next week.
What’s Behind the Cooler than Normal Weather Here?
Sustained ridging across Canada and the Western U.S. acts like an atmospheric block. Troughs are able to dip southward and affect Great Lakes and Northeast with sustained cooling at regular intervals.
Average Temperature Anomaly in Five-Day Intervals:
May 22 through 26: The largest temperature deficit compared to normal is centered across northern Illinois.
May 27 through 31: Still below normal across the nation’s mid-section and Northeast while significant warmth compared to average dominates the Western U.S into Canada.
June 1 through June 5: Temperatures finally return to normal or even slightly above normal across the Great Lakes. This would equate to 70s and 80s for the Chicagoland area.
