Tom Skilling

Ask Tom: Has Chicago ever recorded the nation’s highest or lowest temperature?

May 22, 2019 at 11:50 a.m.

Dear Tom, Has Chicago ever recorded the nation's highest or lowest temperature? How about steady temperatures for 24 hours? — Ricardo Mauzer, Huntley Dear Ricardo, For the national extremes, Chicago...

Active pattern to bring periods of rain, snow

May 22, 2019 at 11:50 a.m.

Low pressure anchored off the Pacific coast is forecast to remain in place as it continues to lash the West with heavy rain and snow through much of next week....

Ask Tom: Are Greenland’s glaciers melting?

May 22, 2019 at 11:50 a.m.

Dear Tom, Are the Greenland glaciers melting? I have read that they are but with such cold temperatures up there, it is hard to believe that melting could occur. —...

Influx of polar air ebbs ahead of clouds and snow

May 22, 2019 at 11:50 a.m.

The high of 13 degrees registered at O'Hare International Airport on Friday represented a 31-degree drop from Thursday's peak reading. The surge of polar air arrived on west winds that...

Ask Tom: What year had Chicago’s widest range of temperatures?

May 22, 2019 at 11:50 a.m.

Dear Tom, In what year did Chicago experience the greatest range between the highest maximum temperature for the year and lowest minimum temperature for the year? — Brandon Smith, Lindenhurst...

Subzero wind chills return, highs in the teens

May 22, 2019 at 11:50 a.m.

Chicagoans will start the day with dangerous wind chills of minus 10 to 20 degrees, as west to northwest winds gusting over 30 mph combine with single-digit temperatures. With arctic-source...

A very cold Friday follows Thursday’s rain

May 22, 2019 at 11:50 a.m.

Some areas may see more than 0.50 inches of rain Thursday. February precipitation totals may exceed half the normal monthly total by Thursday. A large difference in temperatures will set...

Ask Tom: How is snow accurately measured?

May 22, 2019 at 11:50 a.m.

Dear Tom, Measuring snowfall by just sticking a yard stick in the ground seems inaccurate. How is snow accurately measured? — R. Brod Dear R., We passed your question to...

Brief warmup, then cold settles in for weekend

May 22, 2019 at 11:49 a.m.

The freezing rain was to end overnight and move off to the east, but clouds will remain over the Chicago area Wednesday, as another low pressure system approaches from the...

Ask Tom: Has it ever hit 80 degrees in December, January or February in Chicago?

May 22, 2019 at 11:49 a.m.

Dear Tom, In the winter months of December, January and February with the sun low in the sky, it would seem impossible for the temperature ever to reach 80 degrees....

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