Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Chicago Hits Record High of 81°, Only Second Occurrence Earlier Than March 27 in 142-Year History

Today's high of 81° at Chicago smashed the old record of 77° for March 14, set in 1995. The only other occurrence of 81° earlier than March 27 was on March 12, 1990. This is only the 11th time that 80° or higher temperatures have been recorded on any date in March. Today's high was an incredible 35° above normal, and the daily average was 27° above average. The monthly average through yesterday was already 9.7° above normal, and today's readings will raise that above 11°. Climate records at Chicago began in 1871.

This is the second consecutive day with temperatures of 70° or higher at Chicago. The latest forecast calls for temperatures to reach above 70° on each of the next 7 days. If this occurs, it would tie the record of 9 days with 70°+ temperatures in March, set in 1945.

The National Weather Service has summarized the occurrences of 70° and 80° temperatures in March at Chicago and Rockford:
..70 DEGREES OR GREATER  
YEAR AND NUMBER OF TIMES IN THAT MARCH.
FOR BOTH LOCATIONS THERE WERE NUMEROUS MARCHS THAT HAD 1 TO 4 DAYS
OF OCCURRANCE.

...CHICAGO
1945 - 9 DAYS

1907 AND 1910 - 6 DAYS

1938...1963...1986...1995 AND 1998 - EACH HAD 5 DAYS

...ROCKFORD
1910 - 11 DAYS

1945 - 7 DAYS

1907 AND 1938 - 6 DAYS

1918...1946...1963 AND 1986 - EACH HAD 5 DAYS

ON AVERAGE THERE ARE 2 DAYS IN MARCH IN CHICAGO AND 3 DAYS ON
ROCKFORD WHEN THE TEMERATURE REACHES 70 DEGREES OR GREATER.

..80 DEGREES OR GREATER
YEAR AND NUMBER OF TIMES IN THAT MARCH. A
RARE EVENT.

...CHICAGO
1986 - TWICE

1895...1907...1910...1945...1974...1978...1981...1990...AND
2012 (SO FAR) - ONCE EACH.


...ROCKFORD
1907...1939 AND 1986 - TWICE EACH

1928...1943...1981...1986...1998 AND 2007 - ONCE EACH

THE ALL TIME MARCH HIGH AT CHICAGO WAS 88 DEGREES ON MARCH 29 1986.
THE ALL TIME MARCH HIGH AT ROCKFORD WAS 85 DEGREES ON MARCH 29 1986.

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