Labor Day weekend arrives in longest dry spell of past month
With only hours to run in the June through August meteorological summer season, the area is in the midst of a dry spell destined to become Chicago’s longest in a month. No rain is predicted here until spotty t-storms threaten far northern sections of the metro area late Labor Day (Monday). Up to now, the longest rain-free period in the past month was the 7 day stretch from July 28-Aug. 3.
The frequency with which rain has fallen in the past three months has been impressive. The summer’s 15.85” official tally at O’Hare ranks 9th wettest of the past 137 years and accumulated in rains which fell measurably on 43 days—far beyond the 29 days considered “normal.” Thunderstorms occurred on 26 summer days—more than the usual 15.
September opens Saturday with 2 hours less daylight than back on June 21, the start of summer and the northern hemisphere’s longest day.
--By Tom Skilling, WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist