Monday proved the picture-perfect unofficial send-off to this summer. Beneath skies dotted with a few puffy summerlike cumulus, the mercury reached 87° at both Midway and O’Hare—and even touched 88° at Wheeling, Aurora and Kankakee. Nearby Janesville, Wis., was warmest of all, recording 90°. It was the warmest temperature in the Chicago area since an 88° high on Aug. 19—17 days ago. Only nine Labor Days since 1894 and just two since 1970 have been warmer.
The string of rainless days reaches 17 Tuesday. It’s the longest period since a 19-day stretch without measurable rain on March 29-April 16, 2004.
A few thunderstorms may finally reach the area in Wednesday’s predawn hours. Several more can’t be ruled out during portions of Wednesday and Thursday.
While rain’s been absent here, powerful storms on Monday swept Nebraska, dousing Aurora (near Grand Island) with 3.37” while 70 m.p.h. gusts raked Overton.
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
