Let’s revisit events from July 5 in the Chicago area, as reported by the Tribune archives. If you know of any significant event missing on this date, feel free to email us.
Weather Records
The National Weather Service in Chicago provides the following record-breaking weather data:
- High Temperature: 103 degrees (2012)
- Low Temperature: 46 degrees (1972)
- Precipitation: 1.48 inches (1930)
- Snowfall: None recorded
In 1980, on July 5, the Chicago area experienced a significant weather event:
1980: Derecho Weather Event
The temperature climbed to 94 degrees by 4 p.m., surpassing the previous high for the date. A cold front arrived around 11 p.m., dropping temperatures significantly to 64 degrees. Winds reached speeds of up to 82 mph, resulting in power outages for 100,000 homes. The worst wind report came from Northbrook where winds ripped half of a roof off a 20-car garage, damaging at least seven cars. Thankfully, no injuries were reported due to this storm.
Let’s also look back at one notably hot period:
2012 Heat Wave
The area saw a high temperature of 103 degrees on two consecutive days. This stands as a notable instance of high temperatures recorded in Chicago’s history.
Another significant event unrelated to weather happened in 2019:
2019: Chicago Defender’s Shift to Digital
The Chicago Defender announced it would cease its print edition and move to a digital-only format, a decision reflecting changing times in news media. The paper, established in 1905 by Robert Sengstacke Abbott, was once called “The World’s Greatest Weekly.” Abbott played a key role in encouraging the Great Migration of Black Americans from the South to the North during the 20th century. By the time World War I began, a substantial portion of the Defender’s readership was situated outside of Chicago.
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