Snow on the ground in Arlington Heights on October 12, 2006 — the day that holds the current record for earliest measurable snowfall in Chicagoland.
If conditions are just right, Chicagoland could break or tie a record this coming weekend for the earliest snowfall. The earliest TRACE snowfall has been reported on September 25, 1928 and September 25, 1942. The earliest MEASURABLE snowfall is 0.3 inches officially measured at O’Hare on October 12, 2006. The previous record was 0.2 inches October 18, 1972. Another 0.6 inches of snow fell on October 19, 1972. First snowfall greater than one inch in one day was 3.8 inches on October 19, 1989. A three-day total including and following this date totalled 6.3 inches.
FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE forecast on Wednesday October 7, 2009 …
UPDATED FORECAST WITHOUT SNOW BELOW …
Saturday October 10, 2009 Partly cloudy, with a low around 30.
Sunday October 11, 2009: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 42.
Sunday Night October 11-12, 2009: A chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36.
FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE forecast on Wednesday October 9, 2009 …
Saturday October 10, 2009: Mostly sunny, with a high near 51. West northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.
Saturday Night October 10, 2009: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
Sunday October 11, 2009: Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. North northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.
Sunday Night October 11-12, 2009: A 30 percent chance of rain after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Calm wind becoming east southeast around 5 mph.
The record low for October 10 is 27° F in 1964.
The record low for October 11 is 27° F in 1996.
The record low for October 12 is 28° F in 1998.
Earliest Day to Fall Below 32 Degrees was a measurement of 29° F on September 23, 1995
See all Chicago weather extremes from Aprioriathletics.com (AA-ER.COM)
The Cardinal reports measurable snowfall here …
I remember that snowfall in Oct. 2006…but getting snow before Columbus Day will really depress me!