Wednesday’s predicted 90° high may be among the final 90° temps of the year here. In 137 years of weather observations, Sept. 5 has been the average date of the city’s final 90° high. But, averages smooth out the exceptions. The latest recorded 90° temperature in Chicago—94° to be precise—waited until October 6, 1963 to occur. It’s worth noting that since 1928, on 124 occasions there have been 91° or higher readings logged beyond this date at Midway. A 90°+ temp Wednesday would mark the 18th time this year that the mercury at Midway and O’Hare has reached or exceeded that hot weather benchmark.
With Lake Superior teetering just an inch from its record low for this time of year and less than a foot from its all time record low set in April 1926, Tuesday’s deluge across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is noteworthy. Marquette recorded 4.40” of rain-—the biggest tally on a single calendar day in more than four decades of records there.
-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.
