CHICAGO — By the end of Wednesday, 2013-2014 could move into third place among the snowiest Chicago winters on record.
The first-place spot is held by 1978-1979, which saw 89.7 inches, according to the National Weather Service.
Second places goes to 1977-1978 with 82.3 inches, and 1969-1970 rings in third with 77 inches.
As of 6 a.m. Wednesday, 2013-2014 was the fourth snowiest winter on record, with 74 inches.
But the city could get another 2-4 inches by the end of the day, National Weather Service meteorologist Stephen Rodriguez said.
Accumulation measurements are tallied every six hours, with new numbers slated for noon and 6 p.m.
If the city sees 3-4 inches by the end of the day, Rodriguez said, this winter could tie 1969-1970 or push it out of third place entirely.
"We won't know until 6 p.m.," he said.
As for warmer weather — don't get your hopes up.
"It doesn't seem like we're going to get a break from this cold anytime soon," Rodriguez said.
The seven-day forecast calls for temperatures in the upper 30s and low 40s, but Saturday will bring below-freezing temperatures during a "weekend dip."
A 30-day forecast shows "below normal" temperatures for the region through the end of March, meteorologists said.
And if Chicago doesn't break the third-place snow record on Wednesday, there's still time: The city's latest-ever measurable snowfall came on May 9, 1923 with 0.1 inches.
Plus, there's "lots of 0.1 readings" in the record books for March and April, Rodriguez said.
"It's definitely possible."
