Temperatures reach 32 (degrees) here for the first time this afternoon in over 4 days in what has been the coldest December open since 1976. The first four days of the month have averaged 18.5 (degrees)–a reading 13.8 (degrees) below the 30-year norm and also cold enough to qualify among the ten coldest Dec. 1-4 periods since records began here 136 years ago in 1870.
Tuesday’s predicted 33 (degrees) high, while chilly–particularly in light of the day’s gusty SW winds–actually marks an improvement over Sunday’s record breaking 15 (degrees) high and Monday’s 26 (degrees) reading. Only two days all last winter were colder than the 15 (degrees) recorded Sunday. A reading that cold typically doesn’t occur here until Dec. 30.
More than a dozen cities across eight states recorded new record lows Monday morning including 0 (degrees) downstate in Springfield and 22 (degrees) at Dallas, Texas.
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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.
