WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.

Summer 1947 in Chicago began cool, but turned hot in August

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Dear Tom,
You recently mentioned that the summer of 1947 was cool, much like this summer, but didn't it turn hot in August?

--A.J. Simmons

Dear A.J.,

It certainly did. The summer of 1947 was running cool with only six days of 90 degrees or higher on the books through the end of July. Every month since February had logged below-normal temperatures. August appeared to be following suit, opening on a chilly note with a record low of 52 and an afternoon high of only 78 on Aug. 1. However, the weather pattern changed dramatically and blistering heat swept into the city. August 1947 stands as the city's hottest August on record with an average temperature of 80.2 degrees and the third-warmest month on record here. The month had 18 days with highs of 90 degrees or higher, including four days in the 100s.