For a month with a reputation of delivering its heat with lots of haze and humidity, Tuesday’s warm temperatures, low humidities and haze-free sunshine seem anomalies. Were it not for the wisps of high clouds predicted Tuesday afternoon off distant thunderstorms, the day would become only the 6th of meteorological summer (since June 1) to deliver the Chicago metro area 100% of its possible sun.
Quite a spread has developed between daytime and nighttime temperatures over the past 24 hours—a variation predicted to reoccur Tuesday and Tuesday night. With moisture levels as low as they are, the air takes on the character of a desert environment in the sense that it warms quickly by day then cools rapidly once the sun sets. With just 2 weeks left in the three month meteorological summer period, the season is running a modest 1.8° above the average since 1871 and ranks 33rd warmest of the past 135 years.
-Tom Skilling
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
