Chicago winter has officially arrived in record-breaking fashion; Still no measured snow

Tuesday at 09:58 marks the arrival of winter, and is accompanied by weather records.

Except for Tuesday’s unexpected snowfall, Chicago had passed the longest winter cold season—since records began to be kept in 1871—with no measurable snow. The previous record was 2012.

And the fortune teller said there was still no snow in sight.

“We’re going to be pretty warm here ahead of the Christmas holidays,” said Kevin Birk, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

Measured snow is defined as at least one-tenth of an inch and so far that amount has not fallen at O’Hare International Airport, where Chicago weather data is recorded.

For the first day of winter, high temperatures are expected to reach 40 degrees. The cold front is expected to sweep the area with gusts of around 35 mph, which should keep the air cooler, according to Birk.

Wednesday’s highs will be in the below 30s and Thursday’s will see highs below the 40s with little chance of freezing drizzle, Birk said.

“We’re going to be warm here ahead of the Christmas holidays,” Birk said.

He predicted the weather would be around the 50-degree mark with a chance of rain on Christmas Eve.

“That would be too warm for snow,” Birk said.

Tribune Chicago 2021. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.