Record Warmth in Northern Illinois this Winter Despite Cold Snap

​The National Weather Service Chicago analyzed the data for temperatures during the meteorological winter-to-date period (from December 1st through February 9th). 

Despite experiencing a notably cold stretch in mid-January, both Chicago and Rockford have encountered one of their warmest winters on record so far. Currently, Rockford is tied for the second warmest winter on record, while Chicago sits at the sixth warmest. 

For Chicago, the five warmer winters-to-date occurred when observations were taken much closer to Lake Michigan, where temperatures tend to be milder compared to O'Hare or Midway airports during winter. 

Since 1942, when Chicago's official observation site was relocated farther inland to Midway and O'Hare, this winter-to-date period through February 9th ranks as the warmest on record!​