Dear Tom,
Was January 2006 the first month in more than a year that precipitation at O’Hare has been above the monthly average?
Pete Williams, Zion, Ill.
Dear Pete,
Though to area agricultural interests it may have seemed like a year, Chicago experienced only 10 consecutive months of below-normal precipitation, equaling the longest such stretch on record (June 1944-March 1945). January 2005 was wet in Chicago with precipitation 2.25″ above normal, followed by a February 0.56″ above normal. Then dry weather set in, and the moisture surplus vanished, growing into a 12.18″ deficit by year’s end. However, this year January registered a 1.03″ surplus, and February’s current total of 1.80″ (normal 1.63″) already guarantees a second-straight month on the plus side. Despite these surpluses, large deficits remain, and substantial spring precipitation will be vital to ensure a favorable start to the 2006 growing season.
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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.
