Chicagoans haven’t been greeted by temperatures colder than Wednesday’s daybreak teens in more than a month. The chill is temporary. Though daytime highs peak in the mid 30s—readings only modestly above the 29° Jan. 10 “normal” high, even milder weather is on the way. Gusty S winds return readings to the 40s Thursday into Friday in what appears likely to be the final temperature surge of the current 31-day mild spell. Weather records dating back to 1959 here reveal only 7 other spells of above normal temperatures in the winter season have reached or exceeded 30 days in length. Interestingly, one of the longer mild streaks occurred last winter and extended 48 days.
That news comes as the National Weather Service’s parent agency—NOAA—revealed Tuesday that 2006 ranked warmest nationally of any year since 1895. Annual U.S. temps have been averaging 1° F milder than a century ago.
--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.
