As Chicagoans experienced one of the coldest starts ever to meteorological winter this past December, with temperatures the first three weeks averaging some 10 degrees below normal, fears of an extremely cold and costly heating season were commonplace. Huge temperature surpluses since Dec. 22, however, have made the turnaround complete. The next seven days should build on that meteorological winter 2005-06 surplus significantly. With primarily southwest-to-northeast jet stream flow aloft forecast the week ahead, cold Canadian-source air masses will continue to be trapped far to the north.
Longer-range computer models give some indications of a possible return to more normal readings later next week. However, precipitation will probably continue on the light side, with below-normal totals thus far. January appears headed to be the 11th straight month of below-normal precipitation, and Chicago’s extreme drought continues unabated.
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
