Despite the cool temperatures we are currently experiencing, Chicago has had readings at or above 70 degrees quite often from today’s date onward into the autumn. In fact, only 28 years out of 147 in the period of official temperatures (1871-2017) — or 12 percent of the years — have failed to produce at least one day at or above 70 degrees in the city. That occurred most recently in 2013, when the highest temperature from Oct. 17 onward was 69 degrees on Nov. 17.

Great Shakeout Drills: At 10:18 a.m. Thursday, Illinois participates in the Great Shakeout Earthquake Drills, regionally organized campaigns linked together as a worldwide earthquake preparedness movement spanning over 60 countries. The goal is to prepare for the possibility of an earthquake by “dropping, covering and holding on.”