Dear Tom,
I cannot remember a rainier spring and early summer in the 30 years I’ve lived here. How does it compare to others?
Glenn Pawlak, Chicago
Dear Glenn,
Many concur with you. Yet, official rain figures for Chicago may prove surprising. Based on a computer analysis of the city’s precipitation records back to 1871 by meteorologist Richard Koeneman, the official rainfall of 13.09 (inches) at O’Hare since March 1 qualifies this year as Chicago’s 39th wettest ranking it among the city’s top 30% for rain. Koeneman’s review reveals that over the 129 year term of official records, 38 springs and early summers have actually proved wetter while 90 were drier. If we isolate just the past 30 years, 13 Chicago springs tallied larger March 1 through June 15 rainfalls, including last year, during which the period ranked third wettest.
It’s important to realize we’re comparing O’Hare rainfall tallies to the full Chicago record. Midway Airport has recently reported heavier totals than the official site. And, weather observers through the flood stricken counties adjoining the Illinois/Wisconsin border are reporting at least 6 (inches) more rain than in the city since March. Your characterization of the intensity of recent rains is far closer to reality there and at Midway than in the official O’Hare rain numbers.
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Tom Skilling is chief meteorologist at WGN-TV. His weather forecasts can be seen Monday through Friday on WGN News at noon and 9 p.m.
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