First Freezing Temperatures Of The Season Recorded At O'Hare

CHICAGO — The first freezing temperatures of the season were recorded Tuesday morning at O'Hare International Airport, the official recording site for Chicago's National Weather Service.

From 6:35 a.m. to 7:42 a.m., Chicago was a crisp 32 degrees.

According to past data from the weather service, Chicago is a bit behind past first freezes, which typically occur in mid-October in the suburbs and late October in the city center. This is due, in part, to the "heat island" effect common to large cities, where heat trapped among metal skyscrapers takes longer to release.

The first freeze does not always mean the first frost, however. According to WGN-TV's chief meteorologist Tom Skilling, frost can be scattered.

While the forecast for this week is slightly lower than average for this time of year, weather officials predict warmer weather will return next week.

Snow may not be on the horizon for a while, but rain sure is. Warmer temperatures and rainier conditions in the Great Lakes region are expected from December through February, according to an update from the Climate Prediction Center.