Dear Tom,
Last week I noticed a record low from 1873. What are Chicago’s longest standing record highs and lows?
Bob Schantz Lincolnwood, Ill.
Dear Bob,
Chicago’s longest standing temperature records date back to almost the very start of the city’s climatoligical data base which began on Oct. 15, 1870. The city’s oldest record highs were established on an exceptionally warm New Year’s holiday as the year 1875 came to a close.
The balmy high temperature of 68(degrees) reached on Dec. 31, 1875 and on the 65(degrees) maximum the following day on Jan. 1, 1876 have both withstood the test of time and retain their record status to this day. On the cold side of the ledger the city’s oldest record lows date back even further to the year 1872. The low temperature of 47(degrees) recorded on Aug. 31 and the frigid -21(degrees) minimum on Dec. 22 also remain unchallenged.
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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.
Write to: ASK TOM WHY, 2501 Bradley Pl., Chicago, IL 60618 or asktomwhy@wgntv.com (Mail volume precludes personal response.)
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