June 01--Despite a miserable end to the month of May, weather experts say that spring in Chicago was not unusually cold or wet.
Sunday's high temperature of 55 fell way below the 75-degree average for the last day of May.
Although there were a good number of warm days with cool days mixed in, precipitation and temperatures were close to average for the month on a whole, said Ricky Castro, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Temperatures were actually 1.3 degrees above average. Precipitation was about an inch above average.
Perception for the spring season may have also been skewed for those who live near the lake because of the wind, according to Castro.
"There were days that were certainly colder in the city, being on the lakefront with onshore wind," he said.
Meteorological spring started drier than usual in March and April, he said, but precipitation during the spring season overall was about an inch below average -- which is not statistically significant.
"When you're talking like several inches below or above is when you're getting into the notable realm," Castro said.
The only unusual thing about the spring was the lack of severe weather in the Midwest region. May is usually one of the most active severe weather months, he said, often producing damaging winds and hail.
"It was very quiet," Castro said.
As for June, it's hard to say yet if the month will stay close to its average temperature -- a high of almost 80 degrees and a low of about 58. The month's average temperatures typically increase gradually from a high of 75 on the first day of June to a high of 84 on the last day of the month.
mmrodriguez@tribpub.com
