Chicago, Illinois – Northern Illinois wrapped up one of its driest Mays in recent memory, with cities like Chicago and Rockford seeing rainfall deficits of more than 3 inches, contributing to an overall dry spring season.
According to the National Weather Service Chicago, May 2025 brought an average temperature of 58.0°F at O’Hare — 2.6°F below normal — and just 1.35 inches of rain, falling 3.14 inches short of typical levels. Rockford recorded slightly warmer conditions at 59.1°F, but also suffered from dry skies, measuring only 2.17 inches of precipitation.
The spring season overall (March through May) was mild but dry. Chicago finished with 7.00 inches of precipitation, still 3.69 inches below normal, and just 2.8 inches of snow — 4 inches under seasonal averages. Rockford tallied 7.15 inches of spring rain and 4.2 inches of snow, both below normal thresholds.
Residents are urged to monitor soil moisture and stay alert for early summer drought conditions. While no immediate alerts are posted, low spring moisture levels could impact agriculture and increase fire risk heading into June.
