Dear Tom,
I remember April 1980 as being unusual in that the year’s first 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s all occurred in that month. Am I correct?
Mike Parenti, Palatine
Dear Mike,
Your memory serves you well! Through the end of March in 1980, the year’s highest temperature had only reached 59+ and that was recorded on March 20. April opened on the mild side with highs in the 50s on each of the month’s first four days. When the mercury jumped to 64+ on April 5, it marked the year’s first day with a high in the 60s. Two days later the year’s first 70+ day was recorded when the temperature climbed to a balmy 71+. After four consecutive days with highs in the 70s (April 18-21), the mercury on the 22nd shot up to an unseasonable 91+ thanks to brisk southwest winds–leap-frogging through the 80s and bringing Chicago the year’s first days in the 80s and 90s in a single hot blast.
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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.
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