The area is in the midst of a remarkable 4-day temperature resurgence likely to rank among the four largest here in September. On only four occasions since Chicago weather records began in 1871 have September temperatures rebounded 50°+ in a span of four days. A high of 89° or warmer Tuesday coming off Saturday morning’s record breaking 39°—the coldest temp. to occur here this early in 117 years—would make this the fifth. Tuesday’s powerful winds, blowing from the southwest all the way from the ground tens of thousands of feet aloft into the jet stream, boost the odds of this happening. A high of 90° would mark the Chicago area’s latest such reading in 7 years. The 51° increase over Saturday’s 39° low would be the largest September temp increase in 54 years.
Powerful storms swept sections of Florida Monday producing brief tornado touchdowns, offshore waterspouts and torrential downpours.
--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.
