The first three weeks of December, characterized by bone chilling cold and continuous snow cover, have yielded to a milder regime as the arctic air retreats north and east. As of midnight Sunday morning, Chicago (Midway) has reported 61 hrs. of continuous above freezing temperatures--since 11:00 a.m. Thursday morning. This air, mild by December standards, has teamed up with south winds, high dew points, and rain to steadily erode the snow cover to less than one inch late Saturday.
Little change in the current mild pattern is expected right through the end of the year, with a good chance that high temperatures will top out above freezing every day with little precipitation. As a result, Chicago should once again report little or now snow cover in the week between the holidays, a trend began in the early 90s.
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
