Dear Tom,
Has Chicago ever had a winter in which it recorded 20 inches of snow in three separate
months?
Pat Byrne Hoffman Estates, Ill.
Dear Pat,
A winter with three months of 20-inch plus snowfall has never occurred in the Chicago
area since records began in the winter of 1884-85.
The closest we've come was back in the winter of 1977-78 when only January, with
32.3 inches, exceeded the 20-inch threshold, but that December logged 19.2 inches
and February 19.7 inches.
So far this winter we've received more than 20 inches of snow in both December (21.9)
and January (21.5), but to date February has produced only a meager 4.5 inches. Unless
March or April turns out to be a blockbuster month for snow, the city's record of never
recording three 20-inch snow months in one winter will continue.
