Coldest air of 2006 ends mild streak

There have been few streaks of above normal temperatures quite like it in 136 years of weather records. Until Thursday, 48 consecutive days spanning what is typically the year’s coldest period here, posted temperature surpluses. The warmth was so dramatic, the city’s temperature ranking slipped an unprecedented 107 slots, moving in just under 7 weeks from 4th coldest to 111th coldest of all Dec. 1 through Feb. 8 periods on the books since 1871. The chill responsible for bringing the mild spell to its unceremonious end Thursday produced 2006’s lowest temperatures, including a 16° morning low at O’Hare and lows of 6° at west suburban Aurora and 9° at Rockford. Even colder readings gripped areas to the north. Perennially cold Embarrass, Minn. took honors for coldest Midwest location with its -20° morning low while Hayward, Wisc. bottomed out at -10° and nearby Rhinelander posted -7°.
-Tom Skilling