Temperatures reached 90° at Midway Airport Tuesday for the sixth time this year. That’s hardly a record—but it is ahead of the typical pace of four 90s which have occurred by now since 1928. The 2005 tally pales in comparison to the 15 which had been logged through June 22 during the infamously hot year of 1988—a year which was to wind up with 48 readings 90° or higher at Midway and the 47 at O’Hare, the area’s all-time record. Only one 90°+ had occurred here by this time a year ago.
A windshift to the northeast which accompanied Tuesday’s late day cold frontal passage has set the stage for Wednesday’s more comfortable weather.
Stifling heat, the hottest at a number of locations in nearly two years, baked the Southwest Tuesday. Readings hit 117° at Needles, Calif., 116° at Gila Bend and 114° at Phoenix—both in Arizona.
-Tom Skilling
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
