NE winds deliver coolest high of any sun-filled day this month
There have been two cooler daytime highs this month—68° on August 18 and 19. But, neither reading occurred amid the abundance of sunshine predicted Thursday. That highs will struggle to make it to 73° today is a sign that seasonal cooling is underway and occasionally strong enough to make it all the way into Chicago. The cooling will accelerate over the coming month. While week to week daytime temperature declines here in August’s closing week average 1°, the rate at which readings pull back will increase to more than 3° per week by late September.
Warm weather enthusiasts shouldn’t be discouraged yet. Daytime highs return to the 80s for the Labor Day weekend. Weather history indicates an average of three of the 24 daytime highs at or above 90°occur beyond this date.
Phoenix, Arizona broiled at 113° Wednesday, the 29th day this year over 110°—a new record!
--By Tom Skilling, WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist