Winter and February 2017 Climate Summary: Top 5 Warmest February in Chicago and Rockford

Public Information Statement 
National Weather Service Chicago IL 
152 PM CST Wed Mar 01 2017

...A Look Back at the Climate for Meteorological Winter (December, 
January, February) 2016-2017 for Chicago and Rockford...

At Chicago, the average high temperature for the winter season was 
37.8 degrees, which is 4.2 degrees above the 1981 to 2010 average. 
The average low temperature was 23.4 degrees, which is 4.3 degrees 
above normal. The mean temperature for the season was 30.6 degrees, 
which is 4.2 degrees above normal.

A total of 6.16 inches of precipitation was recorded during this 
past winter, which is 0.39 of an inch above normal. There was a 
total of 18.3 inches of snow recorded at Chicago, which is 9.8 
inches below normal.

Records established or tied during the winter months: 

December: Record daily snowfall of 6.4 inches on the 4th.

January: Record daily rainfall of 0.90 inches on the 16th.

February: Record daily maximum temperature of 66 degrees on the 17th.
* Record daily maximum temperature of 68 degrees on the 18th.
* Record daily maximum temperature of 67 degrees on the 19th.
* Record daily maximum temperature of 69 degrees on the 20th.
* Record daily maximum temperature of 67 degrees on the 21st.
* Record daily maximum low temperature of 43 degrees on the 21st.
* Record daily maximum temperature of 70 degrees on the 22nd.

At Rockford, the average high temperature was 37 degrees, which is 
4.8 degrees above normal. The average low temperature was 21.8 
degrees, which is 5.5 degrees above normal. The mean temperature for 
the season was 29.4 degrees, which is 5.2 degrees above normal.

A total of 5.91 inches of precipitation was recorded during this 
past winter, which was 1.15 inches above normal. In addition, a 
total of 17 inches of snow was recorded, which is 12.2 Inches below 
normal.

Records established or tied during the winter months: 

December: Record cold high temperature of 8 degrees on the 15th.

January: Record daily precipitation of 1.01 inches on the 16th.

February: 
* Record daily maximum temperature of 68 degrees on the 18th.
* Record daily maximum temperature of 67 degrees on the 19th.
* Record daily maximum temperature of 69 degrees on the 20th.
* Record daily maximum temperature of 67 degrees on the 21st.
* Record daily maximum low temperature of 43 degrees on the 21st.
* Record daily maximum temperature of 70 degrees on the 22nd.
* Record daily maximum temperature of 66 degrees on the 17th.

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Latest Seasonal Climate Report: Chicago  |  Rockford
 

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Chicago IL
107 PM CST Wed Mar 01 2017

...A Look Back at the Climate for the Month of February 2016 for 
Chicago and Rockford...

At Chicago, the average high temperature was 47.7 degrees, which is 
12.4 degrees above normal. The average low temperature was 28.4 
degrees, which is 8.3 degrees above normal. The average temperature 
for the month was 38.1 degrees which is 10.4 degrees above normal.
During the month of February, 1.52 inches of precipitation were 
recorded, which is 0.27 of an inch below normal. A trace of snow
fell which is 9.1 inches below normal.

Five records were set and one was tied for Chicago for the month of 
February 2017
* Record daily maximum temperature of 67 degrees on the 17th.
* Record daily maximum temperature of 70 degrees on the 18th.
* Record daily maximum temperature of 69 degrees on the 19th.
* Record daily maximum temperature of 70 degrees on the 20th.
* Record daily maximum low temperature of 49 degrees on the 21st.
* Tied record daily maximum temperature of 68 degrees on the 22nd.

Two Top Ten Monthly Records:
**Tied First February on record since 1871 with Trace snowfall with
  1998 and 1987. 
**3rd warmest February on record since 1872 with 38.1 degrees.

At Rockford, the average high temperature was 47.3 degrees, which is 
13.1 degrees above normal. The average low temperature was 26.3 
degrees, which is 8.6 degrees above normal. The average temperature 
for the month was 36.8 degrees, which is 10.9 degrees above normal.
During the month of February, 1.78 inches of precipitation were 
recorded, which is 0.37 inches above normal. 0.2 of an inch of snow 
fell which is 7.5 inches below normal.

Seven records were set for Rockford for the month of February 2017
* Record daily maximum temperature of 66 degrees on the 17th.
* Record daily maximum temperature of 68 degrees on the 18th.
* Record daily maximum temperature of 67 degrees on the 19th.
* Record daily maximum temperature of 69 degrees on the 20th.
* Record daily maximum temperature of 67 degrees on the 21st.
* Record daily maximum low temperature of 43 degrees on the 21st.
* Record daily maximum temperature of 70 degrees on the 22nd.

Two Top Ten Monthly Records
** Warmest February on record since 1905 with 36.8 degrees.
** Snowfall total of 0.2 inch tied for third least set in 1953.

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Latest Monthly Climate Report: Chicago  |  Rockford

• February 28, 2017: Tornadoes move across northern and central Illinois
• February 17-22, 2017:  Record-breaking warm stretch for February and meteorological winter
• 2016-2017 Winter Events
• NWS Chicago Past Events Page