Powerful winds blast the area Thursday with occasional 40+ m.p.h. wind gusts, propelling Chicago area temps to the highest levels of 2007. The predicted high of 92° would make it the city’s warmest since Aug. 2 last summer and produce a temperature within striking distance of the 93° record set in 1950. It would also mark the fourth consecutive 80°+ day in a May which has tallied more 80s than any since 1987. May 2007 now ranks 20th warmest of the past 137 years. It’s been 25 years since Chicagoans have witnessed a total of 13 days with 80s this early in the season.
Highs flirted with 90° a second day Wednesday at the city’s official weather observation sites—O’Hare and Midway (both 89°). But many locations reached 90°, including Lansing, Kankakee, and Rockford. Gary was the area’s warm spot with a 91° high. Historically, Chicago’s first 90° high has occurred on or about May 28.
--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.
