As February comes to a close, Chicago residents are experiencing a welcome reprieve from the bitter cold that gripped the region just a week ago. The recent mild stretch of weather has brought spring-like temperatures, with highs reaching the upper 40s and even soaring well into the 50s on certain days. But how long will this delightful warmth last?
On Monday, forecasters predicted that temperatures would climb above 50 degrees, with some areas possibly even hitting near 60 degrees. The balmy conditions are accompanied by a chance of rain. Monday evening could see showers, and another round of scattered showers is expected on Wednesday, according to the NBC 5 Storm Team.
Meteorologist Kevin Jeanes from the NBC 5 Storm Team pointed out that this winter has been particularly unique for Chicago due to a warming climate that has altered the typical snowfall patterns seen in January and February. In fact, this winter is on track to be the least-snowy in 88 years when considering meteorological winter, which concludes in February.
Data from the 2024-25 season reveals that this winter is currently tied for the 5th lowest amount of snow, marking the lowest snowfall since 1948-49. The National Weather Service’s Chicago office noted that it is among only eight mainland US offices that have not issued a Winter Storm Warning this season. Despite the lack of snowfall, Jeanes cautioned that the region usually sees an average of 5.5 inches of snow in March and 1.3 inches in April, suggesting that winter may not be entirely over yet.
Echoing this sentiment, the National Weather Service emphasized that Chicago typically receives around 6 inches of snow between now and the end of April. Therefore, while the current warmth is a delightful break from the cold, residents should not let their guard down just yet. The NWS underscored this point on social media, indicating that winter weather warnings could still be on the horizon.
Looking ahead, the pleasant temperatures are expected to persist through the week before a return to cooler conditions in the 30s next weekend. As Chicagoans savor this taste of spring, they can appreciate the fleeting nature of this unexpected warmth and brace themselves for the possibility of more wintry surprises in the weeks to come.
