Back-To-Back Highs In The 80s Finally Bury Old Man Winter
CHICAGO (CBS) -- After a Chicago winter that just didn't seem to want to end, Chicago has now seen two days in a row with temperatures in the 80s, the first time it's been that warm in nearly seven months.
The official temperature reached 80 degrees at O'Hare International Airport shortly before 5 p.m. Monday, but the temperature soon dropped back into the 70s. It was the first time since Oct. 9, 2017, that Chicago reached 80 degrees.
Chicago has officially reached 80 degrees at O'Hare this afternoon, making it the first 80 degree temp in Chicago since Oct 9th! On average, Chicago's first 80 degree high comes during the end of April, so we're pretty much on target despite the cold start to spring. #ilwx
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) April 30, 2018
The mercury hit 80 again at noon Tuesday, and was expected to reach as high as 85 degrees later Tuesday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
While still well shy of the record high for April 30 or May 1, that warmth has been a welcome relief for Chicago, which had seen a high in the 70s only one other time in April.
The average temperature in Chicago in April was only 41.2 degrees, the fourth coldest April on record, according to the National Weather Service. The coldest April ever was in 1874, when the average temperature was 38.7.
Here are the rankings for our remarkably cold April. April 2018 finished as the 4th coldest on record in #Chicago and 2nd coldest on record in #Rockford. #ilwx pic.twitter.com/e3LBkBzLb8
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) May 1, 2018
April also saw a record number of days with temperatures at or below freezing, with a total of 16 in Chicago. There were also a total of 10 days with temperatures below 40, the second most ever recorded in April in Chicago.
More interesting stats for our cold April, including record/near record most # of days for April with lows 32°F or less, highs below 40°, highs below 50°F in #Rockford and days with measurable snowfall. #ilwx pic.twitter.com/FGlpxqF2xL
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) May 1, 2018
The National Weather Service said April also nearly set a record for snow, with six days of snow measuring at least a tenth of an inch, the second most on record behind 1910, when there were seven days of that much snow.