Just a little over a third of Fall 2006 remains and the climatologically cloudiest time of the year (November-December) looms ahead. After a mild first week of October, a northwest-erly jet stream flow aloft has been responsible for “November-like” weather (31% sunshine and a 44.6(degrees) average temperature since Oct. 10) that set in the beginning of the second week. This upper air pattern has continued almost uninterrupted since and is expected to persist into this weekend, with a warm-up early next week. If forecasts prove correct, the final seven days of October will see temps average near normal, which would mean October 2006 temperatures will end up averaging about 3 (degrees) below normal. This time of the year, weather records reveal 80 (degrees) highs are almost non-existent and 70 (degrees) highs occur only about 13% of the time. Highs in the 40s and 60s happen almost equally (each about 1 day in 4), with 50s (1 day in 3) the most frequently observed. Rainfall so far this October (3.52″) is running 1.53″ above normal, and another inch or so is possible with the anticipated Thursday-Friday storm.
Sources: National Weather Service-Chicago, Frank Wachowski
WGN-TV/Paul Dailey, Thomas Valle
WEATHER TERM
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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.
WGN-TV meteorologists Steve Kahn, Richard Koeneman and Paul Dailey plus weather producer Bill Snyder contribute to this page.
