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

Chicago's winter of 1992-93

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Dear Tom,
In your Oct. 22 column you mentioned that 1992 had the fewest number 80 degree or higher days (58) before this year (56). What was the winter of 1992-93 like?

Frank Davis Prospect Heights

Dear Frank,
The winter of 1992-93 was slightly above normal in both temperature and snowfall. The winter averaged 26.4 degrees---about a degree warmer than a typical Chicago winter. There were only four days of subzero weather, with the winter's lowest reading dropping to just minus 4 degrees on Feb. 24. Snowfall totaled 46.9 inches as compared to a city-wide average of about 40 inches. There were no huge snowstorms---the biggest totaling around 7 inches, and the season's deepest snowpack reached only 8 inches. The winter's first major snow, a 5 inch affair, did not occur until Dec. 9-10.