The last two days of 2004 saw Chicago’s thermometers hit at least the mid 50s (57° Thursday and 56° Friday)—the last time this happened was 40 years ago in 1965 when the highs on the 30th and 31st were 56° and 60° respectively.
This meteorological feat (consecutive year-end highs of 55°-plus) has occurred a grand total of only four times since 1870. These readings are 25 to 30 degrees above normal—more typical of Halloween.
While the west-to-east jet stream flow aloft will for the most part confine arctic cold air masses north of the Canadian border, it also encourages frequent passages of low pressure systems along this parallel. As a result, rain is expected to hit later today and tonight, again Monday night into Wednesday, and then again next weekend. The week ahead will see a drop off in temperatures, but readings will still average better than 10 degrees above normal.
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
