A treacherous mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain that has Chicagoans slipping and
sliding changes over to a final round of snow Wednesday, and several inches may accumulate by
the evening. Temperatures plunge toward zero degrees overnight as a surge of arctic air
sweeps into the city, but the new chill will be brief. Another vigorous storm system
arrives Friday, accompanied by thawing temperatures, fog, copious moisture and heavy rain.
Rapid snowmelt and rain raise the possibility of flooding by Saturday. Christmas Eve in
1983: high minus 11 degrees, low minus 25.
2008: CHICAGO'S WETTEST YEAR EVER?
Following excessive rain and record flooding across the metropolitan area during the
summer and autumn, 2008 year-to-date precipitation as of 7 p.m. Tuesday stood only 0.66
inches short of an annual record. Heavy rain expected Friday and Saturday virtually assures
a new record.
--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.
