If, as expected, Chicago gets no measurable snow by 6pm tonight, we will set a new record for the latest measurable snowfall of the cold season (July 1st to June 30th, believe it or not), and the second-longest stretch without snow in recorded history:
On Monday...Chicago tied the record, which dates back to Dec. 20, 2012.
There is no snow in the forecast until possibly well beyond Christmas.
There has been some snow so far this season. But instead of having the first typical snowfall earlier in the fall, there have only been traces.
To be measurable, there must be at least [2.5 mm]. Since November, there have been such amounts in the area, but not at O’Hare International Airport, which is the official weather recording station for Chicago.
We last had measurable snowfall on March 15th, 280 days ago. The longest period—which the 10-day forecast suggests we might tie or break—ran from 4 March to 19 December 2012, comprising 290 days.
That said, through December 21st last year we only had 18 mm of snowfall at O'Hare, before getting over a meter of snow through the end of February.
Personally, though, I'm happy with our mild and snow-free December.
Glorious Solstice to All, too.