Thursday was 5th consecutive day with temperatures at or above normal

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

The day began on a chilly note, with widespread 20s Thursday morning across many suburban locations.

Temperatures rebounded quickly under the day’s generous sunshine with many west and south suburban locations warming into the lower 60s. Quite a bounce back!

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The month is off to rather sunny start so far averaging 70% of possible sunshine compared to the normal of 45%.   

Thursday U.S. highs and departure from normal

The mild temperatures weren’t confined to the Chicago area. Readings were 10-20 degrees above normal up and down the Plains states where widespread 70s and even a few 80s occurred. 

The lower 48 average high temperature of 62.5 degrees was well above normal with more than 125 million U.S. residents basking in 70 degree or warmer temperatures and 48 million at or above 80-degrees.