Tuesday’s rain worth ‘a million dollars’
Tuesday’s rain totals varied widely across the area, but 1-2” doused some locations, prompting weather observer James Buckman of Bonfield, Kankakee County, to remark, “The farmers are smiling this morning. This is a million-dollar rain.”
Not only is July Chicago’s most thundery month, it is also the city’s warmest month. And history tells us that within July, the period from the 16th through the 29th is the city’s very warmest. A typical day during that time features an afternoon high in the middle 80s and an early-morning low in the upper 60s (Midway Airport data).
But, cool interludes are a frequently-occurring part of Chicago’s July climate. In fact, a few July days on which afternoon temperatures linger in the 70s (as happened yesterday and Monday) are a virtual certainty. In 78 Julys since 1928, every July except one (1955) has delivered at least one 70° day.
-Richard Koeneman, WGN-TV Meteorologist