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A winter weather advisory is in effect as snowfall blankets the Chicago area. After months of rain and dreary days, the city finally got its first snowfall.
Illinois is experiencing incredibly higher temperatures than usual this winter season. According to studies by Climate Central, Chicago has had a 3-degree temperature increase since 1970. There were 246 locations studied which saw 98% of those locations experience increase in average winter temperatures over half a century. This year’s Christmas lacked snow and saw temperatures rise to the 40s and 50s.
Climate change can be partly credited for the recent increase across the country. For example, wildfires in California and Oregon scorches the land and emits heat and smoke into the atmosphere affecting the temperature.
Last week there was a record-high increase in temperatures, highly unusual for December.
On December 15, Rockford airport recorded a high of 69 degrees, as reported by National Weather Service. This was a daily record and a tie for the warmest temperature ever to be recorded in the month at the airport, since the same month in 2012.
Christmas eve saw a high of 55 degrees for Chicago’s south side and south loop residents, with slight rain being included in its forecast, with the following day being 15 degrees colder with stronger winds.
O’hare International Airport read 65 degrees on Dec.15, while midway recorded a topping 66 degrees. Waukegan recorded a record 66 degrees. Dozens of other places across Illinois, including Wheeling, DuPage, and Romeoville, have recorded temperatures of 62 degrees or higher.
Although warm temperatures have swarmed the state of Illinois recently, with record-breaking temperatures blistering local records, the state could see freezing winter temperatures next week.
Written by Mikal Eggleston
Edited by Cathy Milne-Ware
Sources:
NBC Chicago: After Record-Breaking Warmth This December, When Will Chicago See Temps Drop?
ABC: Live Television
CLTV: Live Television
NBC Chicago: Winter Weather Advisory: Snowfall Totals From Around the Chicago Area
Featured Image Courtesy of Frank van Dongen’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Zach dischner’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
