Dear Tom,
From Nov. 12-14, 1964, Chicago firemen battled numerous multi-alarm major fires. What were the weather conditions like?
Doran Swan, Chicago
Dear Doran,
The weather was windy, dry and unseasonably warm -- perfect conditions for fires to spread rapidly and burn out of control. Chicago climatologist Frank Wachowski found high temperatures reached the 60s on Nov. 11-12 and peaked at 71 degrees on the 14th. Afternoon humidities fell to near 30 percent and winds were strong and gusty from the south and west with a maximum gust to 59 mph on Nov. 12. Three of the biggest fires were at the old Goldblatt's warehouse at 4000 S. Kedzie, buildings near 25th and Michigan, and in an abandoned railroad warehouse near 18th and Clark. Wachowski noted that weather reports from Midway Airport reported heavy smoke northeast of the field.
From Nov. 12-14, 1964, Chicago firemen battled numerous multi-alarm major fires. What were the weather conditions like?
Doran Swan, Chicago
Dear Doran,
The weather was windy, dry and unseasonably warm -- perfect conditions for fires to spread rapidly and burn out of control. Chicago climatologist Frank Wachowski found high temperatures reached the 60s on Nov. 11-12 and peaked at 71 degrees on the 14th. Afternoon humidities fell to near 30 percent and winds were strong and gusty from the south and west with a maximum gust to 59 mph on Nov. 12. Three of the biggest fires were at the old Goldblatt's warehouse at 4000 S. Kedzie, buildings near 25th and Michigan, and in an abandoned railroad warehouse near 18th and Clark. Wachowski noted that weather reports from Midway Airport reported heavy smoke northeast of the field.
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