Actually, HawaiianTraveler, it was above 60 degrees for five consecutive days during December 1998 and above 55 for four consecutive days in 2001 and four days in 2006. If a tourist visiting our wonderful city those weeks had only brought thick sweaters and boots, she would have roasted and wished she had checked the weather as Patg and I have been suggesting. We never suggested bringing shorts.

But I know you'll keep on arguing anyway.

hills27,

Are you taking this personally? Seems like it. You say:

"If a tourist visiting our wonderful city those weeks had only brought thick sweaters and boots, she would have roasted and wished she had checked the weather as Patg and I have been suggesting. We never suggested bringing shorts."

Where did anyone suggest bringing thick sweaters and boots?

patq says:
"It COULD be shorts weather, but the better bet is for highs in the 50s and lows in the 30s-40s, what you folks would call "winter."

I just disagreed with that statement about brining shorts....thats all. I agree with her statement about the better bet for highs in the 50's and lows in the 30's and 40's.

bamababe says:

Patg, You're right. Our winter is anything below 70!

I agree with that statement. We who live in the tropics do not feel that 55 or 60 degree weather is warm.....sorry.

bamababe also says that she only has lightweight jackets and I suggested that she buy a coat. Was that wrong for someone coming to your beautiful city at the end of October?

I love your beautiful city and was just trying to pass on some knowledge that I as a traveler have gained over the years. I did not mean to upset any local Chicagoans and if I have I am truly sorry.

Aloha!

From the National Weather Service:

Statement as of 9:29 PM CDT on October 20, 2007


... Unusually warm October in progress...

Temperatures in Chicago and much of the Midwest have been abnormally warm since October first. In fact... seven of the first 20 days of the month have featured high temperatures of 78f or warmer... with another day in the upper 70s expected tomorrow. So far this month the average temperature in Chicago has been 62.4 degrees... which is 7.9 degrees above the average for the first 20 days of October.

Here are the top five warmest first 20 days of October during the past 30 years in Chicago...

Yearavg temp
2007 62.4
1971 62.3
1973 61.9
1968 60.3
2005 60.2

While this October has started out remarkably warm... it is unlikely to be the warmest October ever in Chicago. The warmest October ever in Chicago was back in 1963 when the average temperature for the entire month was 64.3 degrees... which is 12.2 degrees above the average of 52.1. Current indications are that a return to somewhat more seasonable temperatures will occur for the final week and a half of October... which should place the current record for the month well out of reach.

Another interesting fact is that the coldest the temperature has been so far this fall is 39 degrees. Since the official temperature for Chicago was moved from downtown in 1942 this is this year is going to go down as the latest on record for reaching 38 degrees or colder for the first time. The previous record late date for the first temperature at or below 38 degrees was October 22nd 2005. Despite the expected return to more seasonable temperatures... the current forecast does not include any temperatures below 40 degrees for the next 7 days... so this record will likely be shattered.

We sat out on our deck this evening and grilled. I fully intend to wear shorts tomorrow as it's supposed to get up near 80.

Will it still be this warm when bamababe gets here on the 25th? Who knows!Actually I guess I might know if I'd checked the 10 day forecast! :D

Don't count on the 10 day forcast to be right, CAPH52, either.

Late October weather? You just won't know until it happens.

This whole thread really gave me a chuckle.

I can remember Halloween being rain and sleet and 40 degrees, and it being 75 and too hot to wear your Bear costume.

LOL! Triple times over on this question. You might need both options within 2 days.

Showing 50s and 60s at the end of the week, but as you know, that will change 10 times between now and then.

Bamababe, check the weather all the way to the last minute. They can't seem to predict the weather more than one or two days out here.

78 tomorrow in Chicago, but snowing in Denver....crazy!

Barnababe - I hope you are still watching this post. The weather today in Chicago is predicted to be 78 F.

But for the rest of the week it looks like highs of 60F and lows of 35F. Check out Tom Skilling's weather forcast. He is the best weatherman in Chicago.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/weather/