Friday’s predicted 72° high, the area’s coolest in 3 weeks, falls on the date which has hosted more 90° highs than any other. Since 1928, temperatures on July 20th have surged to 90° or higher 30 times, the most of any day of the year. By contrast, highs have been as cool or cooler than today’s 72° only five times on this date. Fewer than a quarter of July’s high temperatures have been this cool.
Wednesday evening’s downpours have pushed July rainfall above 5” in parts of the metro area. But at O’Hare, July rainfall just 20 days into the month equals the average full July tally of 3.50”. That qualifies this month as the 20th wettest of the past 137 years.
Blazing heat broke records out West Thursday. Great Falls, Montana hit 104° while Casper, Wyoming topped out at 99°.
--By Tom Skilling, WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist
