Chicago lies in the heart of a corridor of strengthening southerly wind flow, surface and aloft, that is set to deliver temperatures more typical of July than October. Today’s expected maximum temperature of 83º brings the city’s year-to-date total of 80º+ days to 97, with four additional 80º+ days expected. The all-time record is 103 days (2005).
Lost in the shuffle of Chicago’s spell of unseasonably warm afternoon temperatures is this fact: It’s going to be uncomfortably warm—and humid —at night as well. An examination of 48 years (1959-2006) of Chicago’s temperature records as measured at O’Hare reveals that overnight minimum temperatures have managed to remain above 69º on only two occasions this late in the season: 70º on Oct. 21, 1979, and 71º on Oct. 4, 2005. If forecasts verify, that two-day tally will double with 70º expected Friday night and 71º Saturday night.
--By Richard Koeneman, WGN Weather Center Meteorologist
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
