Area headed for the most March 60s in 61 years
Chicagoans have enjoyed 11-days of 60° or warmer temperatures this month—more than twice normal (an average of four 60s has occurred in March in the past 137 years). The 70° high predicted later Saturday pushes the 60°+ count to 12—the most here since 1946. That means this month has hosted five times the number of 60s on the books in the same period a year ago. March, 2007 moves into its final hours running nearly 5° above the long term average. It ranks among the warmest 15% of all Marches on record here—and that’s despite the recent rash of chilly days with east winds off the lake.
Friday becomes the fourth consecutive day to feature lake winds which cut into daytime highs.
The 2007 tornado season is proving formidable. With the tally of U.S. twisters closing in on 300, the country has been subjected to three times the January through March average over the past 30 years.
--By Tom Skilling, WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist