Dear Tom,
We’ve just experienced one of the longest streaks of above-normal temperatures ever? How did our streak rank in Chicago weather history?
Richard Cahan, Skokie, Ill.
Dear Richard,
For the 54 day period from June 7 through July 30 in 1921, Chicago’s daily average temperature registered a surplus making it the longest such period in the city’s climate history which dates back to late 1870. That stretch featured 15 days with highs in the 90s, the hottest day being July 17 when the afternoon temperature peaked at 97(degrees). Our current streak of 48 consecutive days of above normal average temperature ended on Feb. 8, 2006 just six days short of the record. Over the course of Chicago weather records there were three other years that had above normal streaks longer than our current one–49 days in 1998, 50 days in 1989 and 52 days in 1931.
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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.
