Apparently the prophecy of global warming hasn't reached the ears of the weather gods in Chicago. It's been five years since Chicago's early season snowfall tally has been any higher at the city's Midway Airport observation site than the 15.8" currently on the books. That's the year December went on to produce a record 41.3" of snow——the greatest amount ever for the month. The seasonal total through Dec. 12, 2000 was 18.2". Of this season's 15.8" on the South Side, 14.6" has fallen this month. That's 8.5 times all the snow which fell last year during the entire month of December (1.7"). For two weeks, temperatures have averaged well below normal. December 2005's average of 17.6 (degrees) in the opening 12 days of the month is 20 (degrees) below the same period a year ago. Five nights last Dec. 1—12 boasted temperatures warmer than any of the warmest daytime readings recorded to date this month. Oh yeah, up to 8 inches of wet, heavy snowy are forecast for the...(Read Full Post)