Chicagoans shivered through the area’s third coldest daytime temperature this winter Wednesday. Readings colder than the day’s 21° high haven’t occurred here in the 41 days since a bone-chilling 17° high back on Dec. 7. The past four days have produced temperatures in Chicago 13° below the Jan. 14-17 period a year ago. But, to the west, Des Moines, Iowa has recorded readings 24° colder, and both Omaha, Neb. and Kansas City, Mo. have run nearly 30° colder than a comparable period one year ago.
New winter storm watches were posted late Wednesday as a third major winter storm targets New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas on Friday. It’s an area reeling from the effect of back-to-back ice and snowstorms. The storms are just the latest systems riding an El Niño-strengthened sub tropical jet stream roaring across the South.
--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.
