Chicago is on track to break the record for warmest February on record.
Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/ Sun-Times
Chicago is expected to set a record for the warmest February thanks to this week’s unseasonably high temperatures.
The city is on track to record a monthly average temperature of 39.4 degrees, surpassing the record of 39 degrees set in 1882, according to the National Weather Service.
Chicago fell one degree short of the all-time daily record high for February on Tuesday, reaching 74 degrees at O’Hare Airport. The highest temperature ever recorded in February was 75 degrees set in 1976.
Rockford broke its all-time daily high record for February, hitting 78 degrees on Tuesday.
Chicago did set a record high on Feb. 26, with a high of 71 degrees, smashing the record of 64 degrees set on Feb. 26, 2000.
Here’s a summary of some records from the recent unprecedented warm spell! Incredibly, Rockford broke their all daily time record high for Feb & meteorological winter on 2/26, then broke that record the next day on the 27th! (cont’d) #ilwx #inwx pic.twitter.com/7V0wkYy0uT
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) February 28, 2024
Unfortunately, the sun and warm temperatures were followed by a powerful cold front and extreme weather patterns Tuesday night.
“This time of year, you just have to be prepared for everything,” Jake Petr, a senior meteorologist at the NWS, told the Chicago Sun-Times.
Thunderstorms moved through the Chicago area Tuesday night and residents reported tornadoes in Sugar Grove, Hinckley and Waterman. The NWS was working Wednesday morning to survey the area and confirm those reports.
Despite temperatures in Chicago plunging into the 20s by Wednesday morning, the record average temperature is expected to be made official Friday.