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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Major city braces for shocking heat wave as meteorologist warns of summer-like surge: 'It's going to feel like mid-July'
It was only the middle of May, but Chicago was already feeling like July. A Windy City meteorologist warned it would be the most sweltering day of the season so far. The mercury soared to a steamy 94 degrees at O'Hare Airport on May 15, setting a new record high for the date in Chicago. A WGN-TV veteran meteorologist saw it coming. "It's going to feel like mid-July instead of mid-May," meteorologist Bill Snyder predicted, per Block Club Chicago. The heat that day broke the previous record set 63 years ago by three degrees. Could this be an omen for a sizzling summer in Chicago? Per NOAA, last summer was the city's fourth warmest on record. The summer of 2024 was preceded by Chicago's seventh-warmest spring. The first two months of spring in Chicago this year ranked as the 25th-warmest March-through-April period on record. Meanwhile, the first three weeks of May have been slightly cooler than average, around one degree below normal. Other major cities this May have been much hotter. Houston climbed into the mid-90s during the middle of May, setting record highs for three straight days. Houston's nights during this stretch didn't offer much relief. The city had record warm low temperatures for five consecutive mornings from May 16 through May 20. Phoenix climbed to 100 degrees or hotter five times during the first three weeks of May. There are indications that this summer could be a scorcher. The Climate Prediction Center's summer temperature outlook favors every portion of the contiguous U.S. to have above-average temperatures this summer. Of the country's top 20 hottest summers, 15 have happened since 2000, and just over half of them have occurred since 2010. An analysis of 242 U.S. cities by Climate Central, a nonprofit group made up of scientists and communicators who study how the changing climate impacts people's lives, revealed that 97% of them have warmed since 1970. Over the past 55 years, these locations saw an average increase of 2.6 degrees. Their study also found that there has been a rise in the number of summer days exceeding the 1991-2020 average summer temperature for 97% of the locations analyzed. Heat waves elevate the risks of early and preterm deaths, especially among those most susceptible: Black and Hispanic mothers. Australian researchers warn that as global temperatures climb, deadly heat waves are becoming the new normal — especially endangering residents of urban areas. A breakthrough by researchers in Hong Kong could help people avoid the heat without harming the planet, thanks to a promising new eco-friendly cooling method. Scientists have also found a way to lower the temperature of hot surfaces that sit in the sun, like glass, and it could make buildings much cooler. The best way to cool down the planet will require a concerted worldwide effort to curb the emissions of heat-trapping gases in our atmosphere. This means moving away from dirty energy sources and embracing cleaner alternatives. Installing a heat pump in place of an old HVAC system and replacing a conventional range with a more energy-efficient induction stove are two ways homeowners can help. Adding solar panels and a battery system can boost your home's resilience during extreme weather and power outages while also cutting energy costs, in some cases to zero. EnergySage lets you compare quotes from trusted local installers, with potential savings up to $10,000. Have your AC bills gone up in the past year? Yes — majorly Yes — by a little Not really They've actually gone down Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Sunday forecast: Clouds clear by afternoon hours, but staying cool around Chicagoland
Weather Maps Interactive Radar Climate & Environment The Sunday of Memorial Day weekend should be mostly dry and sunny around Chicagoland, at least after some morning cloud cover and showers clear out. But the lengthy stretch of cool weather continues, even as we mark the unofficial first weekend of summer. WGN-TV Weather Producer Bill Snyder explains the below-average temperatures We're getting cloud cover and some scattered showers around the area early Sunday. Most areas should see clearing by later Sunday morning, though some areas in the southern part of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana could see clouds and showers linger into the early afternoon. Winds will remain calm out of the east/northeast, but the direction will once again create lakeside cooling. And it'll remain cool overall yet again around Chicagoland, with inland highs in the mid-60s and lakeside highs in the upper 50s, still well below typical Memorial Day weekend temperatures. That doesn't look to change much on Monday for Memorial Day itself, though temps could be a touch warmer than Sunday. If you're tired of the cool temps and aching for some more summer-like conditions, though, we have good news: Temps look to perk back up to more normal levels by the end of the coming work week. See more below. Believe it or not, the city's beaches have officially opened for the season, but use caution: Water temperatures are on the colder side, around 56 degrees. Those who swim in water between 35 and 60 degrees could suffer from 'cold water shock,' which is when the cold water triggers an involuntary gasp and can cause swallowing of water or drowning. We doubt many people will need to cool off in Lake Michigan from the chillier-than-normal temps this weekend, but if you do jump in, extra caution is urged. Weather Maps Climate & Environment Interactive Radar Weather Bug Cameras 7-Day Outlook Weather Center Newsletter The extended outlook for Chicagoland calls for on-and-off showers on Tuesday, with mostly cloudy skies and temps still in the mid-60s. Wednesday then calls for some light rain at times, with high temps only in the lower 60s. Finally, we're back into the seasonal 70s for Thursday and into the last days of May! The warmer temps also come with a slight chance of showers each day at the end of the coming week. And while rain dampers outdoor plans, we do need it, because Chicagoland has been mired in dry conditions recently. As the 7-day forecast shows, by next weekend we could see temps back into the mid-70s, as we flip the calendar from May to June. Climate and Environment news: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Forecast: Partly cloudy, unseasonably cool
Weather Maps Interactive Radar Climate & Environment OVERNIGHT: Clouds scatter with partial clearing toward morning. Cool for the season with low 40s chilliest inland locations. Winds: East 4-12 mph. Low: 44. 🥶 WGN Weather Producer Bill Snyder explains science behind our cooler temperatures The long holiday weekend will open on a chilly note, with upper 30s and low 40s for much of Chicagoland. Even colder air will be prominent to our north where low 30s are likely from Minnesota into Michigan. Frost advisories are in effect for portions of Wisconsin, Minnesota and the U.P of Michigan. A center of high pressure will sit across northern Wisconsin north and deliver a generous amount of sunshine along with high in the 60s again inland, even close to 70 degrees for areas far south and southwest of Chicago. Lake breezes will mean another day of 50s for areas close to Lake Michigan. Chicago beaches opened officially on Friday, but the current chilly temperature regime will certainly keep most from heading into the water until further notice despite the fact that the swim risk is low and wave heights are likely to be no worse than 1 foot. Despite the cooler temperatures, the sun is strong this time of year and can result in a sunburn in about 20 minutes during peak time at 1pm without proper protection. Comfortable late May temperatures continue in the 60s and 70s across the northern 2/3 of the Lower 48. The real summer heat stays south across Texas, Florida, and portions of the Gulf Coast. Weather Maps Climate & Environment Interactive Radar Weather Bug Cameras 7-Day Outlook Weather Center Newsletter Tranquil and largely unvarying weather conditions throughout the holiday weekend with partly to mostly sunny skies. Next chance of rain doesn't arrive until later Tuesday afternoon. While it will be quiet and rain-free here thanks to a ridge of high pressure, heavy rain is back across the central Plains from Oklahoma City to Tulsa to Little Rock, Arkansas and Memphis. 3-4' for most, but a few in Southwest Missouri may see up to 6'. While temperatures will remain below normal, the deficits begin to shrink as we move later into next week. The ridge over Canada continues to act like an atmospheric block and allow cool troughs to dip southward into the Great Lakes and Northeast with cool shots. May 23 through 27: The epicenter of the largest temperature shortfall, nearly 10-degrees below normal, is forecast from the Chicagoland area east into western Pennsylvania. May 28 through June 2: While the deficits aren't quite as impressive as recent days, the area of sub-normal temperatures is forecast to cover the entire Central and Eastern U.S. June 3 through June 7: No heat waves, but temperatures return near or even slightly above normal across the Great Lakes and Northeast, a big improvement from recent days. Widespread showers and thunderstorms will be present across the Plains, Texas, into the Tennessee River Valley and Southeast. For the Chicago area, the best chance of seeing any rainfall will come later Tuesday and Tuesday night, otherwise it looks dry. Climate and Environment news: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
