Near record warmth Friday; replay of 1996 storms?
Temperatures soar Friday to levels 20° above normal. For the only the 17th time on an Oct. 29, the city stands to record a high in the 70s. This afternoon’s predicted 76° is within striking distance of the day’s record of 78° recorded most recently five years ago—but in 1901 as well.
Powerful southerly winds blowing over a broad swath of the nation’s mid-section deliver higher humidities. Friday’s relatively humid mid/upper 60° dewpoints are rare in late October. Since 1990, only two other days have hosted readings as high here so late in the season. Similarly humid air on this date 8 years ago fueled an outbreak fast moving severe t-storms responsible for some 50 to 80 m.p.h. gusts, which downed trees and powerlines while damaging several area buildings. Northwest suburban McHenry clocked 80 m.p.h. winds and O’Hare was whipped by a 60 m.p.h. gusts.