Dear Tom,
What is the average date of the last snowfall? What is the earliest date that we have
been done with snowfall for the season?
Nick Recchia, River Grove
Dear Nick,
Spring is fast approaching and the recent smattering of mild days has raised hopes that
the harsh winter we've been enduring is finally behind us.
However, Chicago's snow history suggests caution is in order. Snowfall records dating
from the winter of 1884-85 provide these sobering statistics: Chicago's average last
date of measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) is April 3 --- five weeks away. March runs
a 96 percent chance of bringing measurable snow, and in April it's 52 percent.
Measurable snow has fallen as far into the spring as May 11 (0.2 inch on May 11, 1967).
At the opposite extreme, the city's snow season ended as early as Feb. 27 in the mild
"El Niño" winter of 1996-97.
