According to the Chicago Tribune, the first half of February in Chicago has been exceptionally warm, with temperatures about 11 degrees Celsius above normal. This ties it with the second warmest first half of February on record, with the warmest being in 1882, when the average daily temperature was 5.22 degrees Celsius.
In comparison, Chicago recorded an average daily temperature of 3.67 degrees Celsius in the first half of February in 1877, and 2.44 degrees Celsius in 1990. This information was shared by Ricky Castro, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Romeoville, on Friday.
Illinois state climatologist Trent Ford has attributed the above-average temperatures to a “strong” El Niño and long-term warming due to climate change. The climatological winter, which includes December, January, and February, has been one of the top five warmest winter seasons on record in Chicago, Ford said.
Ford also mentioned that if the warmer temperatures continue into March, an early start to spring might be possible. This highlights the potential impact of the climatic conditions on the changing seasons and weather patterns.
El Niño, a natural climate phenomenon, occurs on average every two to seven years. It is characterized by warmer sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean near the equator. El Niños typically begin in the summer and peak in intensity during the winter, as outlined by the weather service.
