(Patty Wetli / WTTW News)
If February seemed uncommonly warm and wet, it was.
The average temperature of 33.9 degrees was 5 degrees above normal, with nine days reaching or topping the 50-degree mark, according to a preliminary summary from the National Weather Service.
That places February 2023 in the top 20 of the month’s warmest since record keeping began in Chicago, but the past decade has also seen some of the coldest on record.
In terms of precipitation, the big story was the amount of rain that fell in the Chicago region, the majority in the latter half of the month. The total tally of 3.83 inches was nearly two inches more than normal. There have only been seven wetter Februarys since 1871.
Snowfall, on the other hand, was well below normal. Chicago notched a total of 3.7 inches for the month, which is 7 inches below normal.
But for anyone who thinks the arrival of March means spring has sprung, don’t be fooled. Wednesday’s balmy temperatures will be followed by a cold front and the potential for accumulating snow.
[4:30 AM 3/1] The potential for accumulating snow and wintry impacts remains for Friday, but uncertainty remains unusually high. Be sure to continue to check back for updates as we better refine Friday’s forecast. #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/6UCR5fQbqL
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) March 1, 2023
Contact Patty Wetli: @pattywetli | (773) 509-5623 | [email protected]
