For ten stifling hours Monday, temperatures exceeded 90° at Midway Airport. It’s only the second time since the current hot spell began last Thursday that readings have surged above 90° for such an extended period in a single day. The 96° peak reading at Midway and 95° at O’Hare marked the fifth consecutive day a 90° or higher temperature has occurred in the city. The readings bring this year’s 90° tally to to eleven at Midway—as many as all the 90s recorded in the past three Junes combined. It’s also more than all the 90s which have occurred to date this month in the perenially hot Southern cities of Birmingham, Atlanta, Tampa and Miami put together.
The use of air conditioners has skyrocketed. In this month alone, usage is estimated at more than twice (220%) last year’s rate and is running at double the normal pace.
June rainfall is just 25% the total here a year ago.
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
