Thursday’s April-level 57° high fell just 5° short of the day’s 62° record set last year and in 1890 and 1871—extending to 21 the number of days which have posted a temperature surplus here.
Not since Nov. 28—nearly a month and a half ago—has a milder daytime temperature occurred in the Chicago area. In more than 135 years of official weather records, readings have reached or exceeded 57° in January just 1% of the time —specifically on 55 of the 4,185 January days on the books. But, while mid-winter “warmth” has often occurred with cloud cover, Thursday couldn’t have been more different. The sun was out and 96% of its possible sunshine was tallied making it the brightest of the past 23 days here.
In stark contrast, rain fell in Seattle, WA a 25th consecutive day and Friday marks the 26th day of rain. The record there is 33 rainy days Jan. 6-Feb. 7, 1953.
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
