May Brings Big Weather Changes To Illinois

ILLINOIS — As April ends and May begins, the National Weather Service Chicago shared that April 2025 was a "dry and otherwise unremarkable" month across the general area.

The average temperature for the month in Chicago (measured at O'Hare) was 50. 8 degrees. That is 1.1 degree above normal, the weather service noted.

As for precipitation, Chicago received 2.66 inches of rain throughout the month. This is 1.09 inches below normal. Measurements at Rockford showed an even drier month, as only 2.16 inches of precipitation was measured there (1.59 inches below the norm).

May is expected to be drier and warmer than average, according to the NWS.

As we enter May, residents can expect temperatures to generally be much warmer than April. According to the weather service, the average high temperature for April is 59 degrees, while it is 70.5 degrees for May.

The NOAA has released its monthly temperature outlook for May, and the entire state of Illinois is "leaning above" for a chance for warmer temperatures than normal.

As for the precipitation outlook, chances seem to be "leaning below" for the average amounts expected for precipitation this time of year.

Within the weekly forecast, the weather service is forecasting a chance of showers on Thursday, Friday, Sunday and Monday. Expected high temperatures are: 66 on Thursday, 65 on Friday, 57 on Saturday, 63 on Sunday, 65 on Monday, 74 on Tuesday and 73 on Wednesday.