Just months ago, hurricanes dominated the news in Florida. But, Monday night, cold air was on Floridians’ minds. The deepest penetration into the U.S. of early season arctic air prompted wind chill advisories over the same sections of east central Florida which served as ground-zero in August and September for Hurricanes Jeanne and Frances. And Florida wasn’t alone with the chill. Not only did Chicago and the Midwest shiver in the midst of the first really wintry air of the season, sub-freezing temperatures threatened to reach much of the Deep South overnight, extending from eastern Texas to Georgia.
Chicago’s 30° high at midnight Monday morning was the coldest daily maximum temp here in 10 months (since 24° back on Feb. 16).
Lake snows produced by the cold air across Lake Michigan were significant—but less extreme than in areas farther north. Hartford, near Benton Harbor, Mich., was hit by 7” in just four hours Monday. But snowfall more generally ranged from 2-5”.
--Tom Skilling, WGN-TV Meteorologist
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
