Tuesday: Warmer, sunnier than Monday; snow season officially ends

NOTE: This article has been turned into an almanac of Tuesday’s weather. We have published a new forecast/weather story for Wednesday.

High temperatures were noticeably milder Tuesday afternoon, with most areas reaching the 70s except far north near the Illinois/Wisconsin shoreline border. 

The peak temperatures were nearly 10 degrees warmer than Monday, but more significant was the change in late afternoon/early evening temperatures compared to 24 hours earlier, when readings were 15-20 degrees warmer in some areas. 

Sunshine improved compared to recent days when nearly two thirds of the day’s possible sun was observed Tuesday.

The warmer temperatures and recent rainfall produced an uptick in pollen numbers where Tree pollen was high while grass was upgraded to moderate.  

Chicago snow season officially closes 

April has only seen a trace of snow (flurries) and that last occurred on April 9. While it can still snow beyond this date, long range forecasts suggest an overall milder than normal weather pattern which would completely eliminate any chances for any additional snowfall.

The current season that began last October has been one for the books! The official 17.6 inch tally is nearly 20 inches below the 38.4 inch seasonal total that’s considered normal and makes this the fifth-least snowy since snowfall records began in 1884-85 and the least snowy in 76 years, since the winter of 1948-49!