What are the meteorological ramifications of moving the Illinois primary from March 18 to Feb. 5?
Mary Kay Davis, Arlington Heights
Dear Mary Kay,
By advancing the primary six weeks, Chicago voters have a much greater chance of voting on a cold and/or snowy election day. Feb. 5 is just beyond the coldest part of Chicago’s winter (mid-late January), and the day’s average high of 32(degrees) is 15 degrees lower than the typical 47(degrees) on March 18. It is far more likely that the ground will be snow-covered on Feb. 5, and the odds of having below-zero weather are also significantly higher. The record low for Feb. 5 is -17(degrees) (1979), while the mercury has never been lower than 3(degrees) on March 18 (1923). In fact, in 137 years of Chicago’s climate records dating back to 1871, the peak of the city’s subzero season centers on the period from Feb. 1-4.
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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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