Second straight day of 85 degrees, hotter than July 4 average

Record smashing highs of 85 degrees during each of the past two days — more than 35 degrees above average — were hotter than the typical Fourth of July.

On July 4, the average high is 84 degrees, the highest average of any date for the entire year in Chicago.

Wednesday's record high was the eighth straight day the record high was broken or tied, according to National Weather Service data for O'Hare. The record high has been set every dance since March 14, except for Monday when temperatures tied the record of 78 degrees.

The unprecedented streak could stretch to nine days Thursday as temperatures are expected to be in the mid to upper 70s. The record for March 22 is 79 degrees, which was set in 1938.

As temperatures in the 80s may seem commonplace this month with seven days heaving reached the marker and 10 days left on the calendar, meteorologists said it would be rare to experience this in April.

Only once in the 140 years of climate records has an April seen as many days in the 80s as this March. In 1977, 8 days reached 80 degrees or above.

Chicago averages about one day in the 80s each April, and about one ever 14 years during March.

March 14 was the first time the thermometer hit 80 in March since 1990, when it was 81 degrees on March 12.

As of Tuesday, the March 2012 is set to break the record for average monthly temperature by nearly three degrees. The current average temperature through Tuesday is 52.5, but with Wednesday's 85 degrees and more warm days ahead that number will continue to rise.

If Thursday's temperatures continue the heat streak, the record-breaking will undoubtedly end Friday as highs are expected in the mid to upper 60s with a March 23 record of 80.