Record For Lack Of Snow Within Reach
CHICAGO (CBS) -- With little or no snow in the forecast, Chicago may soon break the record for the least-snowiest start to winter.
The only winters in Chicago that have started off with less snowfall through Jan. 10 are 1889-90 when 1.3 inches of snow fell; 1936-37 when 1.4 inches fell; and 2001-02 when 1.7 inches fell, the National Weather Service said.
With no snow expected Monday and Tuesday, Chicago is only at 1.9 inches of snow so far this season, CBS 2's Megan Glaros reported.
If Chicago doesn't officially pick up a half-inch of measurable snow by Jan. 16, then the 2011-12 winter will move into first place for the lowest snowfall total to date, the weather service said.
And the weather service says although the warm temperatures over the past 37 days have not been record-breaking, they've still been abnormally warm on several occasions.
The unseasonably warm temperatures in December helped lead to the 15th warmest December on record in Chicago. The conditions continued into the first week of January as well. Near record warmth was recorded on both Jan. 5 and 6.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2011. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
