Wednesday’s readings in the lower 50s marked only the fourth day this month (out of 16) on which Chicago’s daytime temperatures managed to climb above normal. That raises the month’s tally of 50° days to three—half the total that climatology tells us to expect.
It will come as no surprise to Chicagoans anxious for spring warmth that the month thus far has been on the chilly side—in fact, among the coolest 25% of all March 1-16 periods since 1871. An altered wind and jet-stream pattern across North America suggests the persistent chill of recent weeks has ended, but the new regime might not be much more pleasant: Computer models indicate heavier rainfall and considerably more temperature variability during the latter half of the month. But we can use the rain. Through March 16, we have recorded only 23% of normal rainfall for that period.
