It's Been a Hot, Wet Summer in Romeoville

It’s been an unpredictable summer for outdoor activities. No need to bring a jacket, with high temperatures and humidity through most of July. But what about an umbrella?

In July, Chicagoland area stats trickled from near-drought conditions at the beginning of the month to record-breaking rainfall numbers by month’s end. The region got 9.77 inches of rain, breaking a record set in 1889.

According to meteorologist Amy Seeley at the in Romeoville, Mother Nature dumped 8.82 inches of rain on Romeoville during July, 3.85 inches in June — and 29 hundreths of an inch so far in August.  

Just how much rain does Romeoville usually experience in the good old summertime? Citing figures gathered at O’Hare Airport for June, July and August, Seeley said the average rainfall for Chicago over the summer months is 11.76.

Since the weather service’s Romeoville location has been collecting data only since 1991, she said, there hasn’t been ample time to determine averages for the village. Meteorologists need 30 years of data with which to determine averages, Seeley added.

Chicago recorded 3.39 inches of precipitation in June and 11.15 inches during July, according to the NWS. Normal rainfall for the area in June and July is 3.63 and 3.51, respectively. Normal precipitation for Chicago in August is 4.62 inches.

 And if you think July was a scorcher, you’re correct. NWS records show the normal July temperature in Chicago at 73.3 degrees. This year, the mercury settled at 79.0 degrees on average, making it the third hottest July on record.

But it appears relief is in sight, with the weather service predicting temperatures in the lower 80s this afternoon and lows in the 70s tonight, followed by similarly pleasant weather throughout the weekend. The NWS forecasts a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms on Sunday.