By this time last year, Chicagoans had enjoyed four times as many September 80s as the three on the books this month. The lack of 80s is unusual; only two Septembers in the past 40 years have logged fewer 80s by this date—1972 (with only one 80°-plus reading) and 1993 (with two).
The month has just passed its midpoint with an average temperature of 66.4°—a reading 7.3 degrees below the comparable period one year ago and chilly enough to rank 40th coolest of the 136 Sept. 1-15 periods on the books since 1871.
The predicted highs Saturday and Sunday mark the city’s warmest temps in eight days. But, the unfolding meteorological scenario in the Plains offers a clue on what’s ahead here. Grand Forks, N.D.’s record-breaking 86° Friday—16 degrees above normal—will be a distant memory there by Monday as highs fail to clear the 40s.
--By Tom Skilling, WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
