Rainfalls have topped one foot in recent days while the snowfalls threaten to top out at 7 and 8 feet in the hardest hit locations out West. The first major storm of the Fall, 2004 season is responsible.
Precipitation records have perished in recent days in parts of the region. Santa Ana, Calif., north of San Diego, recorded 3.15” Wednesday, breaking its all-time October rainfall record. The 9.78” west of Las Vegas at Mt. Charleston becomes Nevada’s heaviest single-day total ever, eclipsing the previous record of 7.13” near Lake Tahoe more than 40 years ago in 1963. Weather warnings continued late Thursday over sections of 8 states.
Chicagoans enjoyed the first sun in four days Thursday. The 58° high was the 10th of October’s first 21 days not to reach 60°. Only three other years since 1959 have produced more sub-60° October highs by the 21st at O’Hare.
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
