“Official” Chicago climatological records date back to Oct. 15, 1870 and are uninterrupted with the exception of a two-week period in October 1871 in the aftermath of the Great Chicago Fire. Early observations were taken by the Army Signal Corp, transferring to the Department of Agriculture in 1890, the Commerce Department in 1940, and just recently to the Department of Transportation. Subsequent to the established first site, 12 moves have ensued, the first seven in the downtown area (see map), from the roof of one building to another, then to the University of Chicago, Midway Airport, and most recently four locations at O’Hare Airport. What is left after 134 years is a continuous but patchwork quilt, non-homogeneous, non compatible, “official” climatological record. The many miles and differences in elevations between sites represent significant differences in climate from the roof top urban center of population to the end of a far NW side runway (O’Hare).
OFFICIAL CHICAGO WEATHER OBSERVATION STATIONS SINCE 1870
1. Chicago Loop area
LOCATION, PERIOD
181 W. Washington, 10/1870-10/1871
427 W. Randolph, 10/1871-06/1872
20 N. Wacker, 06/1872-06/1873
Madison & LaSalle, 06/1873-01/1887
Clark & Washington, 01/1887-02/1890
Wabash & Congress, 02/1890-07/1905
219 S. Clark, 07/1905-01/1926
2. University of Chicago
58th & University Ave., 01/1926-07/1942
3. Midway Airport, 07/1942-01/1980
4. O’Hare Airport
International Terminal, 01/1980-03/1985
Hardstand Building, 03/1985-01/1989
West Higgins Rd., 01/1989-12/1993
US Postal Service, 12/1993-present
Sources: National Weather Service, Frank Wachowski
WGN-TV/Paul Dailey, Thomas Valle
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Tom Skilling is chief meteorologist at WGN-TV. His forecasts can be seen Monday through Friday on WGN-TV News at noon and 9 p.m.
WGN-TV meteorologists Steve Kahn, Richard Koeneman and Paul Dailey plus weather producer Bill Snyder contribute to this page.
