Nov. 24, 2003
Dear Tom,
What is the world's largest temperature rise or drop in the shortest amount of time, and what caused it?
Casey Bruce, Park Ridge
Dear Casey,
According to climate researchers Dr. Paul Krause and Kathleen Flood, the world record for short-time temperature change is a two-minute 49-degree rise from -4° to 45°. This astounding surge in temperature occurred 60 years ago on Jan. 22, 1943, between 7:30 and 7:32 a.m. in the Black Hills at Spearfish, S.D. The rapid warming, caused by Chinook winds, was so extreme that it caused area plate glass windows to crack.
Chicago's largest short-term temperature change was a drop of 22 degrees in just 2-1/2 minutes, observed when a lake breeze moved onshore on May 9, 1963. Grant Park temperatures plunged from 84° at 1:47 p.m. to 62° before 1:50 p.m.
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