It was colder Thursday afternoon in Chicago than at the North Pole -- 6 below zero here
versus 8 degrees. The day's unlimited sun had no impact on temperatures. Daytime readings
didn't rise. Minute ice crystals -- often incorrectly characterized as "steam" -- rose
from Lake Michigan. Temperatures as cold as Thursday's are extraordinarily rare here. The
day's high of 1 below at O'Hare occurred at midnight Wednesday. Of the 50,404 high
temperatures on record in 139 years of official weather observations, only 44 of them have
registered 1 below or lower.
The cold spell will ease -- but primarily Friday night as winds increase. Velocities may
grow strong enough to promote blowing snow -- especially in open areas -- late Friday
night through Saturday morning with 30 m.p.h. gusts possible.
Chicago's suburbs have experienced the area's coldest readings. Morning lows Thursday
hit 24 below at west suburban Sugar Grove and Illinois' coldest reading -- 29 below --
occurred 80 miles west/southwest of Chicago's Loop in Ashton.
'PINEAPPLE EXPRESS' WARMS ALASKA
Interior Alaska -- bitterly cold days ago -- has had local 105-degree temperature
increases to the 50s -- breaking records.
--Tom Skilling, Chief Meteorologist, WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
