Wednesday Almanac: Worst ragweed season in at least 8 years

NOTE: This article is now an almanac of Wednesday’s weather. We have published a new forecast story for Thursday.

We begin the climate section with a note for allergy sufferers. It’s been a rough stretch with ragweed pollen running high for more than three weeks straight, and Wednesday’s count was the highest level so far this year. Dr Rachna Shah and Loyola Medicine report that the last time we had counts this high was back in 2018, 7 years ago.   

Wednesday temperatures

Highs climbed back into the 80s, reaching the warmest temperatures here in 17 days, since August 18^th, when the high reached 83 degrees. We logged nearly 80% of the day’s possible sunshine.    

Updated 80 degree temperature tally

Wednesday marked the 72^nd day at or above 80-degrees, a level well below the 85 days on the books by September 10^th a year ago.  

Wednesday U.S. high temperatures

Nearly 177 million U.S. residents shared in the 80-degree or warmer temperatures Wednesday afternoon. 

Wednesday Highs: Departure from normal

Well below normal highs dominated both coasts while the warmth was most prominent in the Great Plains and Northern Plains.