Dear Tom,
What’s the greatest number of 90s in September, and have we ever had a September with no 90s?
Nick Recchia River Grove, Ill.
Dear Nick,
The likelihood of hot days diminishes quickly in September, but lingering summer heat is no stranger to the month. An examination of 79 years of Midway Airport temperature data (1928-2006) shows that at least one 90 (degrees) day has occurred in 50 of the 79 Septembers in that period, or better than six Septembers out of ten.
September, 1931, holds the record with nine days at or above 90 (degrees). Three Septembers (1939, 1953, 1960) even logged 100 (degrees)+ days. Late-season heat lovers, don’t give up hope. The records indicate a one-in-five chance of another 90 (degrees) day beyond today’s date. We’ve even logged 90 (degrees)+ as late at Oct. 6 (94 (degrees) on Oct. 6, 1963).
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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.
