It's Scary Hot

Well, this heat wave is just beginning, and here are yesterday's numbers:

Chicago, Illinois hit 81°F; the warmest it's ever been this early in the year, going back to 1872, and 35°F above average. This ties the record set on March 12, 1990.

Evansville, Indiana hit 82°F, the warmest it's ever been this early in the year, going back to 1871, and 25°F above average. This ties the record of 82°F set on March 10, 1990.


Traverse City, Michigan hit 81°F, the warmest it's ever been this early in the year, going back to 1897, and 42°F above average. Previous record: 77°F on March 7, 2000.

Dubuque, Iowa hit 75°F, the warmest it's ever been this early in the year, going back to 1874, and 37°F above average. This ties the 75°F reading of March 12, 1990.

Madison, Wisconsin hit 78°F, the warmest it's ever been this early in the year, going back to 1869, and was 36°F above average. Previous record: 77°F on March 8, 2000. 

(More information here , at Dr. Masters' Blog.)

Ah, Madison - a place I lived during a January in which the air temperature never went above 0°F and we had wind chills around -50°F on a regular basis.  It may be a looonnnggg time before that kind of winter happens again.

I think I'd better start collecting estimates for my new air conditioner.  If our summer temperatures get 35° above normal, I won't survive without one.