'Sultry, Thunder-Filled' Summer: IL's Severe Weather Season May Be Worse This Year

ILLINOIS — Chicago weather is known to be temperamental, and this summer isn't going to be any different, weather experts say.

For Illinois, the Farmers' Almanac foresees a "sultry, thunder-filled" summer in Illinois, while its rival, the Old Farmer's Almanac, calls for a "hot, rainy" one. The National Weather Service's seasonal temperature outlook for June through August in Illinois shows a 33-40 percent probability of above-normal heat.

The Farmers' Almanac, which has been around since 1818, said heat will be in full force by July, with a majority of the country "sweltering with above- to high-above average temperatures."

By the time the summer solstice rolls around on June 20, the Farmers' Almanac expects "dangerous thunderstorms" to move east into the Great Lakes area. Scattered thunderstorms are forecast through the end of the month.

For Labor Day, which falls on Sept. 1 this year, Illinois should experience "fair weather," the Farmers' Almanac predicts.

The Climate Prediction Center cites soil moisture as a dominant factor in temperatures this summer. Although the Chicago area experienced steady rainfall at the end of May, the soil remains very dry in other parts of the state, according to a report from CBS.

Founded in 1792, the Old Farmer's Almanac also said July and August will experience "above-normal temperatures across most regions." Illinois is also among the states forecast to receive above-normal rainfall.

"Given recent trends, we wouldn't be surprised to see record-breaking heat," the almanac said.

Illinois broke one weather-related record in 2024, with the National Weather Service determining it set a new state record for most active tornado season, Patch reported. Illinois had 142 tornadoes last year, breaking the record of 125 set in 2006.

March and April are the windiest months in Illinois, with winds clocking about 9.1 mph, but it's in June through August that the majority of damage occurs to crops and infrastructure, according to Farm Progress. In those three summer months, small, conventional storms can produce wind gusts of 50-plus mph.

CBS's First Alert Weather team said a more severe weather season than normal could be due to the Pacific-North America Pattern. The current negative PNA Pattern can lead to more significant tornado outbreaks in the central U.S.

RELATED: Illinois Had Most Tornadoes In State's History In 2024, NWS Says