It's unlikely daytime temperatures are going to flirt again with 50 degrees -- as they
did Tuesday -- anytime soon. Chicago readings rebounded to 62 degrees Wednesday
and are predicted to surge to 73 degrees Thursday and 80 degrees Friday. The big
atmospheric changes behind the warm-up show no sign of abating in the coming two
weeks -- a period in which nearly all daily average temperatures are likely to finish near
or warmer than normal. It's a welcome change which more nearly parallels the warmth
observed here a year ago when the high reach 88 degrees.
The three month "meteorological summer" season begins as June arrives Sunday --
and not a moment too soon. Three of four days this month have been cooler than
normal.
Storm development is accompanying the warm-up to Chicago's west. In New Mexico,
baseball-size hail (2.75 inches in diameter) bombarded Conchas beneath
54,000-foot-tall thunderstorms.
SUNNY WEDNESDAY ARRIVES ON HEELS OF 6 CLOUDIER THAN NORMAL MONTHS
Wednesday hosted 100 percent of its possible sunshine -- only the second time this
month skies have been completely clear. Sunshine has fallen short of historic norms
each of the past six months.
--Tom Skilling, Chief Meteorologist, WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune
