Chicago's Latest Freeze
Dear Tom,
What is the date of Chicago's latest freeze?
--Shirley Bell
Dear Shirley,
Chicago's latest freeze occurred 16 years ago when the mercury fell to 32 degrees at
O'Hare International Airport on May 25, 1992. The previous morning was also chilly with
a frosty low of 34 degrees, and back-to-back minimums of 33 followed May 27-28.
Just six years ago, the city experienced its second-latest freeze when the thermometer
registered 31 degrees May 21, 2002. These freezes stand out because they are a full
week later than the previous latest freeze set May 14, 1895, with a low of 32. The two
latest freezes were established at O'Hare's more rural environment, which fosters
somewhat lower minimum temperatures than the city's earlier official thermometer
sites, which were near the lake until 1942 and then at Midway Airport through 1979.