Dear Tom,
What is the record for the fewest 70(degrees)-plus high temperatures in October?
Rich Pokorski, Morton Grove
Dear Rich,
More than any of the three autumn months, October epitomizes the fall season. The heat of summer that often lingers into September is gone, and the first bone-chilling blasts of winter chill that arrive in November have not yet started.
October brings pumpkins, eye-pleasing foliage and the season’s first frosty mornings. And in the Midwest, 70(degrees) days, too, are a part of October.
But in Chicagoland, 70(degrees) temperatures are location-dependent. On average, lakeside dwellers can expect six days at or above 70(degrees) in October, but it’s 10 days for most of the area.
As with all months, though, October temperatures are subject to extremes. The city recorded 24 days at or above 70(degrees) in 1963, and none in 1885 and 1917.
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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.
