Dear Tom,
Has Chicago ever recorded a 100(degrees) temperature in May?
James Miller
Dear James,
Based on official temperatures, Chicago’s record high for May stands at 98(degrees) recorded on May 31, 1934. The very next day on June 1, the mercury peaked at 102(degrees) which officially stands as the city’s earliest 100(degrees).
However, unofficial readings taken throughout the metropolitan area reveal that several locations did reach triple digits on May 31 including Midway Airport 102(degrees), Aurora 104(degrees) and Joliet and Cicero both with highs of 101(degrees). That late May/early June hot spell was the harbinger of extreme heat that was to grip the city later that summer. On July 23, 1934, Midway Airport logged a scorching 109(degrees) and the next day the city’s official observation site at the University of Chicago recorded a high of 105(degrees), the city’s all-time record maximum.
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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.
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