The persistently mild temperature regime that closed out 2006 gives no indication that its strength is abating, at least in the short run. In fact, Chicago’s daytime temperatures are forecast to surge above 50º on three of the next four days, a feat that has been accomplished only twice (1897 and 1998) in 136 years of Chicago weather history. The 1998 occurrence brought daily highs, Jan. 2-5, of 50º, 58º, 56º and 55º. The city’s normal daily high on each day during that period is 30º.
Midway Airport weather historian Frank Wachowski tells us that December 2006 temperatures climbed to 50º or higher on 11 days during the month at that observation site, and that ties the record of 11 such days recorded in 1998.
Yet another indication of the strength and persistence of the mild anomaly: Despite the arrival of “cold” air yesterday, the city’s high temperature climbed to 43º—13 degrees above the day’s normal high.
--By Richard Koeneman, WGN Weather Center Meteorologist
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
