Summer 2024 Could Be Hottest On Record: See IL Forecast

ILLINOIS — An increasingly likely La Niña event could mean the United States could experience one of the hottest summers on record this year, and temperatures in Illinois will be no exception.

According to a recently released forecast from The Weather Channel, Illinoisans can expect an abnormally hot summer in 2024. In fact, long-range models and climate trends indicate it could be one of the hottest summers on record.

La Niña could play a big role in spiking temperatures, Dr. Todd Crawford, vice president of meteorology at Atmospheric G2, wrote for The Weather Channel. La Niña events typically occur every two to seven years on average and last nine to 12 months.

During a La Niña event, strong trade winds push warm water toward the U.S. West Coast, bringing cold water to the ocean surface and pushing the jet stream northward, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

As a result, a La Niña event often leads to drought in the southern U.S. and heavy rains and flooding in the Pacific Northwest. La Niña can also lead to a more severe hurricane season and an increased chance of a hotter summer in the central and eastern U.S.

According to The Weather Channel's forecast, temperatures in Northern Illinois and many other Midwest states are expected to be well above average this summer.

For May and June, Illinoisans can expect above average conditions. In July, temperatures in the majority of the state will be among the highest above average nationwide as the heat shifts northward into the Northern Plains, Ohio Valley and Northeast states.

As summer comes to a close, temperatures will remain well above average in August for the northern part of Illinois, according to The Weather Channel.

This newest forecast is in line with a prediction released last month by the Farmers’ Almanac, which warned Illinoisans to expect muggy and stormy conditions this summer.

In its summer 2024 weather forecast, the Farmers’ Almanac also said many Americans could experience the hottest temperatures in recorded history this summer. Wet weather is also in the forecast for many parts of the country.