Chicago winters have warmed an average of 5 degrees since the 1970s, but summers haven’t kept pace in the production of truly hot days. When overall summer temperatures are averaged and compared, readings haven’t fallen. But, as hot weather enthusiasts may have suspected, the pace at which 90°-plus days have occurred is off. Since 2000, the city has hosted only 143 daytime highs of 90° or higher at Midway. By comparison, the 1930s saw 343 days with 90s, the 1950s hosted 276, and the 1940s featured 252. If 90s continue occurring at the pace observed so far, the 2000-2009 period would be the lowest yielding decade in terms of summer 90s since the 1930s.
Blistering heat broke records again Tuesday from the northern Plains to the shore of Hudson Bay. An automated Canadian weather station at Rockglen, Saskatchewan recorded an unofficial high of 115°. Had that reading been official, it would have exceeded Canada’s highest temperature ever: 113° set on July 5, 1937.
--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.
