Wednesday dawned with frost in a number of western suburbs for a second consecutive
morning. The overnight chill followed Tuesday's 55-degree high -- a reading in stark
contrast to the 80 degrees recorded a year earlier. Tuesday's chilly high tied for fall
2008's coolest.
To date, October is running a modest 1.3-degree surplus. But the month's average
temperature is well behind a year ago. While Chicagoans have been treated to one
80-degree day earlier this month, eight had occurred in October 2007.
A storm taking shape in the Plains is eastbound and likely to bring wetter weather
toward Friday. Eight of the 13 most recent computer models suggest rains of a half
inch or more will fall across the Chicago area with the late-week storm.
FALL HARVEST WELL UNDER WAY -- 2 WEEKS OF GOOD WEATHER NEEDED
Will County farmer John Hazzard reports that 95 percent of soybeans and 35 percent of
the corn in his area have been harvested -- ahead of the statewide average reported
earlier this week by USDA. Area farmers would like to see another two weeks of good
weather to finish their fieldwork, but may have to contend with late-week rain.
--Tom Skilling, Chief Meteorologist, WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune
