If you’ve sensed rain’s been in short supply here, you’re right. It’s been 11 days since measurable rain (0.01” or more) has fallen into Chicago’s official rain gauge at O’Hare—remarkably the longest streak without measurable rain in April since weather records began here in 1871. The month’s 1.48” tally to date at O’Hare and the 1.46” on the books at Midway is just half normal. That’s to change dramatically with the arrival of a blustery storm beginning late Tuesday night and lingering into Friday. More rain is likely to fall across the area over that period than has fallen the entire month to date!
Temps dove late Monday with a cold front’s passage and windshift off Lake Michigan. Between 4 and 5 p.m., readings at O’Hare tumbled 12°—from 70° to just 58°—ending Chicago’s second multi-day spell of 70°+ warmth.
The recent warm spell slashed April’s temp rank from 15th coolest only a week ago to 40th coolest of the past 137 years today.
--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.
