Dear Tom,
With this month nearly three quarters over and still no days below 70(degrees); has Chicago has ever experienced a September where the max temperature reached at least 70(degrees) every day?
Matt Balitewicz East Chicago, Ind.
Dear Matt,
It has never happened. Since Chicago weather records began in 1871 the city has never experienced a September that did not host a cool spell where high temperatures failed to reach 70(degrees). Actually last September in 2004 looked like it would be the first, but a late month cool down held the high to only 66(degrees) on September 28 and to 65(degrees) on the 29th. Unlike this year, last September did not record any 90(degrees) days, but it was warm and dry with 16 days in the 80s. This September may not make it either as the latest forecasts indicate the possibility of some cooler weather moving into the city before the end of the month, possibly as early as tomorrow.
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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.)
WGN-TV meteorologists Steve Kahn, Richard Koeneman and Paul Dailey plus weather producer Bill Snyder contribute to this page.
