Dear Tom,
Which locations in the U.S. and the world have the greatest differences between their all-time highs and lows?
Joel Strassman
Dear Joel,
Areas that have large temperature ranges are typically located in the interior of continents, far away from the modifying influence of large bodies of water. Elevated arid regions are prime locations for having large temperature extremes. The Guinness Book of World Records lists Verkhoyansk, Siberia, as having the world’s largest temperature range: 189 degrees from a low of -90.4(degrees) to a high of 98.6(degrees). The largest range in the United States is reported to be 178 degrees at Fort Yukon, Alaska, where the mercury has been as low as -78(degrees) and as high as 100(degrees). For the sake of comparison, Chicago’s official extremes span 132 degrees, from a low of -27(degrees) on Jan. 20, 1985, to a high of 105(degrees) on July 24, 1934.
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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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