National Weather Service climate analysis for May 2026 for Chicago and Rockford indicates May 2026 produced normal daily highs in Chicago, warmer daily highs in Rockford, slightly cooler nights in both regions, and much lower precipitation than normal in both regions.
Chicago
In Chicago, the average high temperature was 70.5 degrees, which is normal.
The average low temperature was 49.6 degrees, which is 1.0 degrees below normal.
The mean average temperature for the month was 60.1 degrees, which is 0.5 degrees below normal.
Rainfall was low with 1.17 inches of liquid precipitation recorded, which is 3.32 inches below normal for Chicago.
Chicago experienced the 10th driest May on record with 1.17 inches of liquid precipitation.
No daily records were set for Chicago during this past May.
The dry May followed a wet April 2026 with 7.19 inches of rain, which was 3.44 inches above normal, the 7th wettest April on record for the Chicago area.
Rockford
In Rockford, the average high temperature was 73.5 degrees, which is 2.3 degrees above normal.
The average low temperature was 45.4 degrees, which is 4.1 degrees below normal.
The average temperature for the month was 59.5 degrees, which is 0.9 degrees below normal.
Rainfall was lower than the Chicago area with 0.52 inches of liquid precipitation recorded, which is 3.66 inches below normal for Rockford.
Rockford experienced the second driest May on record with 0.52 inches of liquid precipitation.
The following daily records were set for Rockford this past May:
Record daily low temperature of 27 degrees on May 2, 2026.
Record daily low temperature of 27 degrees on May 7, 2026.
The following top ten monthly records were set for Rockford this past May:
The dry May followed a wet April 2026 with 6.46 inches of rain, which was 2.71 inches above normal, also the 7th wettest April on record for the Rockford area.
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Chicago’s climatic period of record dates back to:
1871 for precipitation
1872 for temperatures
1884 for snowfall
Rockford’s climatic period of record dates back to:
1905 for temperatures, precipitation, and snowfall
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Information according to a Public Information Statement from the National Weather Service Chicago IL, 1144 AM CDT, Monday Jun 1 2026.
