2014 Chicago Winter Now 10 Inches Short Of All-Time Snow Record
By John Dodge
CHICAGO (CBS) -- After Wednesday morning's snow, Chicago is now 10 inches shy of the all-time record for snowfall in a single season.
That got us to wondering: Is it worth enduring a few more days of snow to earn the title?
The recent CBS Chicago online poll found that most people already say this season is the worst winter ever, but it was a close race with the infamous season of 1978-79, which holds the record for most snowfall at 89 inches.
Beating that measure would arguably erase much of that debate. Both seasons were about equal in terms of average temperature of 18 degrees, but 2014 was far worse for days at or below zero (a record 26).
With 79 inches of snow, this season so far ranks No. 3, just behind 1977-78 at 82 inches.
What makes the snow this season different from 1978-79 is the fact that Chicago hasn't seen one of those massive single snowstorms.
None of this year's storms ranks in the top 10 all time.
Largest single snow this season was Jan. 5 with 8.7 inches, according to Bill Nelson of the National Weather Service.
That was the last of four days of snow to start the New Year: New Years Day: 2.1 inches; Jan. 2: 5.8 inches: Jan. 4: 3 inches.
In 1979, 20.3 inches fell in one storm on Jan 13-14.
