The stinging chill of winter remains on hold. December, 2004 may be only 8 days old, but the month already boasts an impressive 4.5° temperature surplus. That’s warm enough to rank among the mildest 36% of Dec. 1-7 periods here in the past 135 years.
Temperatures both Monday and Tuesday surged past 50°—and another 50-degree day appears a good bet Thursday. Back to back 50s aren’t as unusual in the Chicago area as December’s cold reputation might make you think. 82 of the past 134 Decembers (61%) have hosted sets of consecutive 50° days.
Generous precipitation over the past 2 weeks has been unusual in its own rite. When Tuesday’s 0.82” at O’Hare (1.20” fell at Midway) is included, the period since Nov. 24 has generated more than twice the official rain and snow (3.11”) making the period this area’s 5th wettest since 1870.
-Tom Skilling
