Chicago sees its coldest start to April in 137 years

No one alive today has experienced the start of an April in Chicago as cold as this one.

It has been 137 years since the first 17 days of April have been as cold and snowy as they’ve been in 2018, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Gino Nizzo.

This April is the second-coldest on record, trailing only April 1881, Nizzo said.

Snow is forecast to continue Wednesday night into early Thursday, making for slippery driving as a slushy mix accumulates. About an inch can be expected on grassy areas and elevated surfaces, according to the weather service.

While the cold and snow are unusual, weather like this in Chicago isn’t unprecedented. Average snowfall in April is about one inch, and Chicago has seen measurable snowfall into early May, Nizzo said.

Still, he said, “What has been uncommon is the persistence of the snow and cold. The extent and severity has been at an extreme for the last couple of weeks.”

He said Chicago is on the verge of setting a record for the city’s coldest-ever start to April.

Wednesday started off with sleet and hail, with rain possible into the evening.