document_title: List of The Boondocks characters

question_text: who plays riley and huey on the boondocks

text: List of The Boondocks characters

text: Main fictional characters[edit]

text: The Freeman family[edit]

text: Huey Freeman[edit]

text: Huey Freeman (voiced by Regina King) is a young, leftist, radical Black revolutionary and retired domestic terrorist. He is a practicing and near master practitioner of Chinese martial arts, as seen in the episodes "Let's Nab Oprah", "Attack of the Killer Kung Fu Wolf Bitch", "Stinkmeaner 3: The Hateocracy", and "...Or Die Trying". He maintains an austere, yet strangely loving relationship with his brother Riley, and has shown the willingness to go out of his way to prevent his brother from succumbing to bad influences (occasionally giving him some "tough love"). Over the course of the comic strip and television series, Huey retains a sober demeanor, tending not to let his countenance relay his mood. During most episodes, Huey takes on the role of narrator, and it is often only through his narration that his thoughts and emotions are revealed. In the comic strip, Huey's best friend was Michael Caesar, who effectively balanced out Huey's pessimistic world outlook with his upbeat personality and temperament. The role he played in Huey's life has been taken up by his neighbor Jazmine Dubois in the television series. Unlike Caesar, Jazmine tries to balance Huey's demeanour with a childlike, naive innocence, which often leads to Huey having to resolve a situation where Jazmine is being taken advantage of.

text: Riley Freeman[edit]

text: Riley Freeman (voiced by Regina King) is Huey's younger brother. Riley could be described as a product of mass media influence, in that he refers to women as "bitches" or "hoes", frequently alludes to his "rep" and his status on the "streets", and idolizes gangsta rappers and their lifestyle. He often refers to himself as self-appointed moniker "Young Reezy". Though he would seem to be everything his brother is not, he has demonstrated his ability to rationalize and plan things out, such as when he planned his "fund raiser" and when he rendered attorney Tom Dubois speechless after debating with him regarding the R. Kelly trial in "The Trial of R. Kelly". "Damn, you just got beat by an eight year-old." which Huey remarked. His criminal aptitude is put to the test when he goes on some crime sprees with the incompetent Ed Wuncler III and Gin Rummy in the episode "Let's Nab Oprah" during which he effectively acts as the brains behind the operation to kidnap Oprah. Riley can be seen as representative of the misguided Black youth. He has a fascination for firearms, and his tendency for violence is displayed time and time again. At Christmas, he declared himself "The Santa Stalker" and attacked the Santa at the local mall with airsoft Glock 17s, hitting many innocent bystanders. Riley does not own any real firearms and has only been seen owning Airsoft-style guns—a Glock 17 and an MP5K—but he pals around with Ed Wuncler III and Gin Rummy, who have on occasion granted him access to real weapons. He also seems to possess unusually large amount of strength and stamina, as seen when he fights his brother Huey, who is a very high degree martial artist and swordsman. It can also be seen when he fights Stinkmeaner alongside his family where, albeit slow, his blows seem to be worth blocking against a kung-fu trained Stinkmeaner. Indeed, though, beyond this tough-guy facade, there would seem to be some measure of sensitivity that is especially apparent in the episode "Riley Wuz Here" during which he learns to use his incredible artistic abilities to create art for the sake of creating art, and not for personal glory.

text: Robert Freeman[edit]

text: Robert Jebediah "Granddad" Freeman (voiced by John Witherspoon), is the paternal grandfather and legal guardian of Huey and Riley who lives in a peaceful environment in Woodcrest while he tries to enjoy his retirement. Robert has witness to many major incidents in American history. He was a part of the civil rights movement, but was prone to certain faux pas such as donning a raincoat in preparation for getting doused by a police fire hose. Robert was also a fighter pilot in World War II, during which time he flew a P-51 Mustang with the Tuskegee Airmen. He was also a part of the Montgomery bus boycott, even sitting next to Rosa Parks, though she received all the credit for refusing to give up her seat while he, having actually refused before her and much to his chagrin, received none. This also brings Robert's age into question, since in order to have been in World War II and in the civil rights movement he claims to have been in (while making his relative stamina and cartoonish actions realistic), he would be between 87 (the minimum age of World War II participants of 1945) and 100 years old today. Granddad occasionally serves as a more pragmatic voice of reason. Though he has expressed his embarrassment over Huey and Riley, his primary motivation is to advance his family's best interest. This is where he most often finds himself at odds with his grandsons. Huey and Riley, though possessing contrasting personalities, tend not to act in a manner in line with their grandfather's desire for simplistic living. Riley gets in trouble a lot and Huey always has his eye on some bigger picture. He does not hesitate to use corporal punishment when necessary, wielding his belt with great dexterity for this purpose. Although it is never directly explained how Robert came to be Huey and Riley's guardian, it is implied that Huey and Riley's biological parents are deceased.

text: Secondary fictional characters[edit]

text: The DuBois family[edit]

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Thomas Lancaster DuBois (voiced by Cedric Yarbrough) – Tom DuBois is the Freemans' wimpy, geeky across-the street neighbor who works as an attorney. He is an African-American, whose character is a stereotype of a successful white-collar middle-class black man. Skittish and easily frightened, Tom adheres strictly to the law because of his virgivitiphobia, the fear of being anally raped in prison, as Huey's narration explains in "A Date With The Health Inspector": a flashback shows 10-year-old Tom being terrified by a prison movie he's watching on TV; from then on, he refuses even the slightest legal infractions ("But what if we get caught? We'll get arrested and anally raped!"). Huey mentions that Tom's job as a prosecutor sends other Black men to the very fate he most fears. He also played basketball in college. His character can be interpreted as an "Uncle Tom" as he is seen as having turned his back on his Black heritage (however genealogical testing shows him as being 32.5% Scottish) to marry a white woman (Sarah), producing a mixed-race child (Jazmine), and becoming a criminal prosecutor who often convicts Black people. But in line with the show's complexity, the name "Dubois" may be an homage to W. E. B. Du Bois, thus putting his character in a state of conflict. For example, in one episode the neighborhood watch was convinced of the Freeman family's guilt in a string of local break-ins due to their reluctance to speak to the police, and Tom, rather than acquiescing, confronted the neighborhood watch with the ridiculous nature of their accusations. Tom was at one point the unwilling vessel for Stinkmeaner after Stinkmeaner's escape from Hell; however, Stinkmeaner was eventually exorcised which returned Tom to normal. Various episodes depict Tom as a supporter of LGBT rights, gun control (or at least proper gun registration), and protection of Intellectual property.
Sarah DuBois (voiced by Jill Talley) – Sarah is Tom's white wife. She is very comfortable about their interracial marriage even when Tom is mocked for it in "The Trial of R. Kelly". She even jokingly said to Tom, "I told you about messin' with them white women". Sarah and her daughter are Usher fans, which makes Tom jealous. Several episodes imply that Sarah is sexually frustrated when Tom's jealousy over Usher forced Sarah to throw him out of the house.
Jazmine DuBois (voiced by Gabby Soleil for first 3 seasons, Kiarah Pollas for season 4) – Jazmine DuBois is Tom and Sarah's biracial daughter. She can be extremely paranoid and a bit naive, making her an object of ridicule for Riley. Jazmine was shocked by both the September 11 attacks (and hid in her room for two years as a result in the comic strip) and finding out that the tooth fairy is not real. She is a strong believer in Santa Claus, viewing him as the true meaning of Christmas to the point where she dreams of preaching the gospel of Santa to the masses. Huey can sometimes be cold toward her and this is shown through her constantly following him around. She first appears in the episode "The Trial of R. Kelly".

text: Other major fictional characters[edit]

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Uncle Ruckus (voiced by Gary Anthony Williams) – Uncle Ruckus is the main antagonist. Overweight with a grotesque appearance and a glass eye (it is also implied that he may possibly be senile), he idolizes old black-slave culture. Ruckus is self-hating, disassociating himself from his African-American heritage as best he can, and hates all non-white people.[1] His greatest wish is that black people were still enslaved, because he believes that they were better off. His name draws on the character Uncle Remus, the fabled raconteur from African-American folktales like Song of the South. His views of black people align with the views of white racists. He claims to be white by stating he has a mythical disease called "re-vitiligo" ("It's the opposite of what Michael Jackson's got, lucky bastard" he always retorts). The episode "The Garden Party" strongly evidences his hatred of black people to the point that when Riley, Huey and Granddad arrive he exclaims, in an ignorant misuse of the hospital emergency codes system, "We have a 'code black' at the main gate". During that episode, Ruckus performs an impromptu song entitled "Don't Trust Them New Niggas Over There." Not only is Uncle Ruckus racist toward blacks, but he seems to be a white supremacist and an extreme racist which is strongly shown in "The Red Ball", where he claims that Ed Wuncler Sr.'s "White leadership" helped the team win the game and refers to a Chinese man as a "yellow nigga". Ironically, he is the show's darkest-skinned character. His character is a hyperbolic parody of the self-hating black man. However, as much as he may hate black culture, other episodes show him socializing with the Freemans. In "…Or Die Trying", he demonstrates a mastery of the nunchaku and hand-to-hand combat. In "The Uncle Ruckus Reality Show", he is horrified to learn via a DNA test that he is 102% African with a 2% margin of error. The knowledge of his true heritage causes him to quit all of his jobs (he is seen in a variety of service jobs in the show) and adopt other behaviors that conform with his racist views. Later in the episode he is shown false documents stating that he is 52% white after the executives in charge of the show become upset over the plummet in ratings that Ruckus' behavior caused. He is told the original results were performed by a black doctor and were erroneous. In "The Color Ruckus," his childhood and possible reason for his hatred towards black people was revealed. He was subject to frequent physical abuse from his drunken father, Mister Ruckus, and raised with the belief of his re-vitiligo and white man history by his loving mother, Bunny Ruckus. Although Mister would later state that he was really an accidental birth and his skin condition was a deluded hoax, Ruckus would still retain the belief that he was adopted and originally white. In "Good Times," Uncle Ruckus started his campaign to run for mayor.
Edward "Ed" Rothschild Wuncler Sr. (voiced by Edward Asner) – Ed Wuncler Sr. is an overweight, rich realtor who is the father of Ed Wuncler Jr. and the grandfather of Ed Wuncler III. His family founded the town of Woodcrest and have lived in the area for over a century. His last name draws on the character “the Once-ler” from Dr. Seuss's book The Lorax. Like his namesake, Wuncler acts as the hyperbolic archetypal capitalist. He praises the freedom to exploit cheap labor and complains about high taxes in "The Block is Hot". The wealthy Wuncler owns the loan on Granddad's house (as he does with every house in Woodcrest) and somehow Woodcrest's police force, and is embarrassed by Ed Wuncler III. Wuncler sometimes does things considered racist such as referring to Grandad as "Robert Freedman", and employing only illegal Mexicans at his restaurants. Ultimately, though, his racism is implied as simply being a byproduct of his insatiable greed rather than an active hatred of those from different races. Ed seems to have taken a general liking to Robert, referring to him as "old school", and even funding his soul food Restaurant venture in the episode "The Itis", though this may have merely been part of an elaborate scheme to lower property values in the area so that he could purchase the nearby park and "develop" it. Along with this, he owns a fast food restaurant called "McWuncler", a parody of McDonald's as seen in the episode "Return of the King". He also has a sweatshop which is run by 12-year-old Indonesian girls as Huey reveals and Ed confirms in "The Block is Hot", demonstrating his ruthless manner. It appears that Wuncler's pettiness and self-serving nature knows no bounds, as in the episode "The Red Ball," he admits to orchestrating an elaborate hoax in order to emotionally traumatize Huey into never playing kick-ball again, by convincing Huey that he was responsible for giving a young girl a "...permanent, severe limp..." during a friendly kick-ball game, simply to make sure Huey would never challenge Wuncler's own undefeated kick-ball team in future competition. In the season 3 finale, "It's Goin' Down," Ed masterminds a false terrorist attack in Woodcrest, with the intention of making the lone victim (an overweight security guard) a national martyr and cultural icon, and then exploit his likeness for profit including a film that would star Jack Black. The plot is foiled by Huey and a government agent named Jack Flowers, but Ed avoids arrest thanks to the intervention of President Barack Obama (who called up Jack Flowers). In the final minutes of the episode, an angry Flowers takes Ed's grandson hostage, and he responds by smiling and saying "What are you waiting for? Shoot him!"
Edward "Ed" Wuncler Jr. (voiced by Sam McMurray) – Ed Wuncler Jr. is the son of Ed Wuncler Sr., immoral like his father with an apparent code of conduct akin to the mafia as he is not above committing acts of violence. Wuncler Jr. first appears in Season 4 to seemingly help Robert with his money trouble in "Good Times", only to have the Freeman family in even worse conditions and in debt to him. Soon after, Wuncler Jr. has the Freemans and other people indebted to him work in the his Freedomland amusement park as slaves. But Huey stages a revolt and the amusement park closes soon after.
Edwin "Ed" Wuncler III (voiced by Charlie Murphy) – Ed Wuncler III is the grandson of Ed Wuncler Sr. and the son of Ed Wuncler Jr. Ed Wuncler III is a drunken, psychopathic, trigger-happy ex-special forces soldier freshly discharged from active duty in Iraq. His character could be seen as a parody of a young George W. Bush, painted in broad strokes — a figure destined to be president on the strength of his family's wealth and power, despite his sub-average intelligence (as referenced at the end of "The Garden Party", where his grandfather says, "In 30 years, that boy will be President of the United States... and he'll still be a fucking idiot!"). His personality and physical appearance are strikingly similar to rapper Eminem (especially his Slim Shady persona). He reveals that while in Iraq, he defecated in his pants out of fear so many times that the smell compromised his unit's position; he was not allowed to go on patrol as a result. Ed's bling includes a large medallion in the shape of the letter W, and he frequently wears a bulletproof vest. Although he is set to inherit an enormous fortune, he insists upon living a life of poorly executed crime, usually on behalf of his grandfather's business interests or as personal favors to Riley Freeman. He seems to have trouble distinguishing targets; as he has repeatedly kidnapped or attempted to murder the wrong person. Ed III and his friend, Gin Rummy, get away with their misguided and comically inept criminal antics because Ed Wuncler Sr. has the police and everyone else in the city on his payroll, and because his status as a member of the U. S. Armed Forces confers the public image of a hero no matter how immoral his actions may be, while Gin Rummy often argues that their escapes are the result of his being a master planner. For example, the pair go unpunished when staging a poorly executed bank robbery; Ed and Rummy are seen as heroes when they rob a convenience store owned by a person of "terrorist descent" after an unexpected shootout ensues; in attempting to kidnap Oprah Winfrey, they mistakenly abduct Maya Angelou, then Bill Cosby instead. Ed's signature line is "'The fuck y'all looking at?"
Gin Rummy (voiced by Samuel L. Jackson) – Gin Rummy is a former special forces soldier and Ed Wuncler III's best friend. The character is apparently intended as a parody of Donald Rumsfeld by similarities in name, appearance, and use of actual quotes. His last name, "Rummy," matches the nickname given to Rumsfeld that was often spoken by President George W. Bush. Even though he is shown to be more intelligent than his best friend, he shares the same homicidal tendencies. His name is also a reference to the card game Gin rummy. When someone challenges his poor criminal planning, claiming they only get away because no one comes after them, he defends himself by claiming just because they do not know no one comes after them does not mean there is not anyone coming after them, asserting that "the absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence" (parodying the claims of Bush and Rumsfeld regarding Saddam Hussein's supposed weapons of mass destruction in Iraq) in reference to the assertion that no one ever comes after them or by insisting that he could not plan for "unknown unknowns". In every episode he appears in, he complains about modern technology, from Bluetooth headsets to the iPhone. Gin Rummy considers himself a patriot and will do whatever it takes to bring the "Fugitives of Justice" their due; a behavior that mirrors most American militiamen. Though never implied, he is probably individually wealthy, unlike Ed who is an inheritor. He first appears in the episode "A Date With The Health Inspector". His style of speaking often parodies Samuel L. Jackson's character Jules Winnfield from Pulp Fiction. In many episodes Rummy drives a black Cadillac Escalade.
Otis Jenkins (voiced by series producer Carl Jones) – Otis Jenkins is a once-famous rapper named Thugnificent and Riley's most recent idol. Thugnificent hails from the fictional town of Terra-Belle, Georgia. He is loud-mouthed and sports afro puffs similar to those worn by the rapper Ludacris. His narcissism is unmatched, epitomized by the ubiquitous statues of himself, designed to mirror Ancient Greek gods in their style and pose, that adorn his white-and-gold mansion, as well as by a painting depicting himself standing above Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G.. Soon after moving into the neighborhood, he begins a rivalry with Robert and later initiates Riley into his entourage, the "Lethal Interjection Crew," consisting of himself, fellow rappers Macktastic and Flonominal, whom he met through his record label, and "other niggas [he's] known his whole life". Despite his less-than-attractive traits, Thugnificent does attempt to be a good neighbor by asking for permission to throw his loud parties and encouraging face-to-face communication within the neighborhood, and is fairly friendly with most other neighborhood citizens. In the episode "The Fried Chicken Flu" he is even seen saving the family from Uncle Ruckus and Mrs. Von Hueson, after Robert kicked him out of the house. In "Bitches To Rags" it is revealed that Thugnificent has a bachelor's degree in Communications. "Bitches To Rags" also reveals that Thugnificent's record sales and popularity have been in sharp decline; by the end of the episode his home is foreclosed and his belongings auctioned to pay his debts. Relinquishing his stage name, Otis thus begins a new career as a delivery man and cuts his hair (all the while hoping for a reality show to save him from "real work"). His catchphrase is "Eat a Dick!!". He is a marijuana aficionado; being a firm critic of the Pharmaceutical industry, he admits he doesn't consume any medications over the counter or prescribed.
Leonard (voiced by DeRay Davis) is Thugnificent's dim yet well-meaning friend and member of Thugnificent's Lethal Interjection Crew. Although Leonard was treated as a second-class member of the Lethal Interjection Crew—mostly due to his penchant for being socially awkward—he is the only member of the crew to stick with Thugnificent when he lost all of his money. While he is shown to be slow and a bit of a buffoon (Believing that Buffalo Wings are made from Buffalo), he is also shown to be more thoughtful, generous and loyal than most characters on the show. In the third season he is almost always shown in his Wendy's uniform, the job he took after Lethal Interjection disbanded.

text: Real life characters[edit]

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Martin Luther King Jr. (voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson) – In this show, Martin Luther King Jr. did not die from being shot. Instead, he ended up in a coma that lasted for forty years. He came out of his coma in "Return of the King" following the events of 9/11.
Sway Calloway (voiced by himself) – Sway is the MTV News reporter who first appears in "The Story of Gangstalicious" narrating the documentary "Gangstalicious: Resurrection" and then the breaking news. He last appears in "The Story of Thugnificent" narrating the documentary "Thugnificent: Rags to Bitches." He also appears in shinin' reporting Riley's chain getting stolen.
Bill Cosby (voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson) – Bill Cosby is played as a barely intelligible cynic who complains endlessly about the poor manners of young people. Ed and Rummy kidnap him in "Let's Nab Oprah," but return him almost immediately as they find him too annoying.
Xzibit (voiced by himself) – Xzibit pimps the Freemans' car Dorothy as a result of one of Riley's scams, and makes a short appearance in the second season when Granddad asks him to assist with a diss rap.
Ghostface Killah (voiced by himself) – Ghostface Killah appears to Huey as a ghost (despite not being actually dead) and advises him when Tom Dubois is possessed by Stinkmeaner's spirit.
Lamilton Taeshawn (voiced by Bobb'e J. Thompson) – Lamilton Taeshawn is based on Latarian Milton, the 7 year old who stole his grandmother's car and went for a joyride, quotes such as "I like to do bad things" and "my friend who smokes wit cigarettes" are said by both Lamilton and Latarian. A friend of Riley's but, he soon realizes that Lamilton's intentions were evil. He (like his real-life counterpart) steals his grandmother's car and goes on a joyride with Riley, and convinces him to engage in all types of misconduct (spraying a combination of hot sauce and urine at people, dropping a life-sized dummy of a person from an overpass to cause a massive car pileup, etc.) until his attempts to rob Mrs. Van Hausen's house result in him killing a dog, at which point he is apprehended. Lamilton gets out of the system and, believing that Riley is the one who told on him (it was actually his former therapist who was stalking him under the suspicion that he was still dangerous), hunts him down and tries to kill him. After the ensuing fight, he falls off a roof and survives, but is attacked by the therapist.
The Booty Warrior – The Booty Warrior is a homosexual prison inmate who is based on real-life convicted serial rapist Fleece Johnson in appearance, voice, and personality, though here The Booty Warrior's mannerisms (and obsession with anally raping men) are more of a caricature of Johnson's than anything else. In "A Date With the Booty Warrior", it is revealed that The Booty Warrior was convicted due to raping Chris Hansen. During a program where troubled schoolchildren are sent to prison where they will learn what happens there at which Tom was chaperoning, Booty Warrior developed a lust for Tom and holds him hostage with a shank he stole from Tom (who took it from Riley prior to the field trip) in an attempt to rape him, and a riot ensues. The Booty Warrior stalks Tom in his attempt to anally violate him, but loses when he steps on wet soap.
Winston Jerome – Winston Jerome is a superstar playwright, screenwriter, actor and cult leader. He appears in the episode "Pause" where it is revealed that Winston founded his theatrical cult for the purpose of having sex with men. Robert auditioned to be the leading man in one of his plays. His character, and more specifically, his success as an actor and scriptwriter, is a spoof of Tyler Perry.
Joe Petto (voiced by Fred Willard) – Riley's school teacher who in a state of confusion called him "nigga" causing an uproar. Petto is confused because he had assumed that saying "nigga" was different from "nigger". Petto fervently states that Riley said the word first, and says it so frequently he does not even notice. Petto is based on the real-life teacher Paul Dawson who called his student Keysean Chavers "nigga" during a confrontation in class. Petto's confusion on the words are exclusively based on Dawson.
George W. Bush – 43rd President of the United States.
Barack H. Obama – 44th President of the United States.
Ronald Reagan – 40th President of the United States
Wedgie Rudlin (voiced by Donald Faison) – Wedgie Rudlin is President of entertainment for BET, and a simpering yes-man to his superiors. An obvious parody of actual BET President of entertainment (and executive producer for the Boondocks) Reginald Hudlin.
Kardashia Kardashian (voiced by Grey DeLisle) – Kardashia is a parody of the Kardashian sisters of Khloe, Kim, and Kourtney. Like them, she is a Caucasian reality TV star with butt implants, which explode during one date with Robert. She dies alone and the pilot for her reality show was never pitched.
Siri (voiced by Grey DeLisle) – An app that Granddad becomes attached to and the main antagonist of "I Dream of Siri". But, when he said that he loves her, Siri becomes obsessed. Going haywire, she hacks Robert's new Android and at the wedding, she sends fake pictures of Robert being a terrorist to al-Qaeda. A drone comes to the Freeman house and destroys Siri. Granddad's complaint made it to Apple. He is also removed from the president's kill list and also received a free iPad, as shown in the epilogue notice.

text: Recurring characters[edit]

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The White Shadow (voiced by John C. McGinley) – The White Shadow is a white, secret agent with white hair and shades whose responsibility is spying on Huey for his radical actions. An enigmatic individual claiming to be sent by the apparent "powers that be" to spy on Huey from monitoring his communications to personal conversations. It is not proven as to whether or not he is a real agent or simply a figment of Huey's imagination due to his ever-increasing paranoia; given the fact that he appears and disappears so easily and no one else has yet to see him. Though he seems as a sinister individual, he usually appears to provide insight or warn Huey. Huey is the one who dubs him "The White Shadow."
Gangstalicious (voiced by Mos Def) – Gangstalicious is one of Riley's favorite rappers. Gangstalicious features in "The Story of Gangstalicious", "The Story of Gangstalicious Part 2", and "Thank You for Not Snitching" and makes a cameo appearance in "It's a Black President, Huey Freeman." He is responsible for the hit single "Thuggin' Luv" heard in the show ( which is heard in many episodes), as well as "Homies Over Hoes". Inspired as a child by Ice Cube, he acted "like a killer" so people would like him. This behavior carried over into his adult life, and he's been living a lie ever since. He is a closet homosexual and goes to great lengths to keep this secret from the public. He was formerly involved in a secret homosexual affair with a gangster named Lincoln who attempts to kill Gangstalicious for betraying their love while on tour, and at some point assaulted a record label executive and rapped about it on TRL only to be arrested later. He was also involved in a relationship with a hip-hop video vixen named Jessica Ethelberg, who later wrote a book revealing he was gay (despite the fact that there were already countless obvious clues to the fact beforehand). His real name is Frederick.
Macktastic (voiced by Snoop Dogg) – Macktastic is a rapper and member of Thugnificent's Lethal Interjection crew. Despite his stereotypical gangsta attitude, he is shown to be quite articulate in his speech at times (slightly similar to his voice actor), and is a man of few words. His appearance resembles that of Taboo of The Black Eyed Peas. After the fall-out of Lethal Interjection, Thugnificent mentions that Mack went back to pimpin'.
Flonominal (voiced by Busta Rhymes) – Derrick Cornish is a rapper under the name Flonominal and member of Thugnificent's Lethal Interjection crew. His vocabulary seems to be quite limited, and uses hip-hop slang frequently at the end of, and even in between his sentences, and if he cannot think of anything else to say, he will say things such as "Word!" and "Nah mean?" (phrases commonly used by the rapper Ghostface Killah of the Wu-Tang Clan, who plays a role in "Stinkmeaner Strikes Back"). Although he puts on a hard-man, gangsta facade and is as loud as Thugnificent at times, he is shown to be soft and sensitive, as seen as when his mother called him and scolded him about the controversy caused the Lethal Interjection label and the constant attacks on the elderly by Thugnificent's rivalry with Robert Freeman (Granddad), and when Butch Magnus Milosevic hit him on the leg with a baseball bat, after demanding Riley's chain back. He resigns from the Lethal Interjection in "Bitches to Rags" when Thugnificent is unable to pay for the house and when Thugnificent gets him fired from a job as an office worker.
A Pimp Named Slickback (voiced by Katt Williams) – A Pimp Named Slickback is a pimp who gets easily irritated when someone calls him "Slickback" for short, demanding to be addressed by his complete self-professed name: "It's like 'A Tribe Called Quest' — you say the whole thing." He first appeared in "Guess Hoe's Coming to Dinner" when Granddad began dating his prostitute, Cristal. He made a cameo appearance in "Return of the King" but had no speaking lines. He appears in the season 2 episode "Tom, Sarah and Usher", in the episode where Tom believes Sarah is having an affair with singer Usher, attempting to teach Tom to gain the respect of his wife through violence and intimidation. The character is modeled after Katt Williams' character of "Money Mike" in Friday After Next. He also drives a purple BMW which matches his purple suit. He also appears in "The Story of Gangstalicious Part 2" where he is brought in by Granddad to talk to Riley about sex and dissuade him from homosexuality.
Colonel H. Stinkmeaner (voiced by Cedric Yarbrough) is a blind old black man whose appearance resembles Dr. Badvibes from C.O.P.S.. As Huey states, Stinkmeaner has acted like an ornery old man for his entire life and saw his Cancer-induced blindess at age 15 as good thing since he hated everything and everyone he saw. Though expected to die within three years, the doctors believed that Stinkmeaner's "Love of Hatred" kept him alive as he dedicated the rest of his life to making everyone's lives a living hell. After beating Robert in a fight in the mall parking lot, Huey mistakes Stinkmeaner for a blind swordsman (specifically Zatoichi) and has his Granddad train to fight Stinkmeaner. But by the time Huey realizes Stinkmeaner is a regular old man, having had the match legally sanctioned prior at the last second to ensure no prosecution, the fight ended with Robert unintentionally killing Stinkmeaner. Ending up in Hell soon after, Stinkmeaner trains in martial arts before the events of "Stinkmeaner Strikes Back" where the Devil sends him back to Earth to spread ignorance and chaos among black people. Once back on Earth, Stinkmeaner possess Tom Dubois to take revenge upon Robert before being exorcised when tricked by Huey into finding common ground with Uncle Ruckus. In the season 3 episode "Stinkmeaner III: The Hateocracy," serving as its narrator, Stinkmeaner is revealed to have belonged to a crew of violent, elderly hoodlums known as the "Hateocracy." Once notified of Stinkmeaner's death, the surviving members of the Hateocracy, a trio of skilled martial artists named Lord Rufus Crabmiser, Lady Esmerelda Gripenasty, and Mister George Pistofferson, reunite to attack the Freeman family as it gave them an excuse to ruin someone's life. Luckily, as Crabmiser murdered Bushido Brown during the attack, the Hateocracy are arrested by the police shortly. In the season 4 episode "Stinkmeaner: Begun the Clone War Has", it is revealed that Stinkmeaner enlisted in a cloning project prior to his death and left instructions for his clone, who is genetically enhanced, to continue antagonizing Robert. Eventually, after Robert newly descended to his level, the Stinkmeaner clone renounces the vendetta but still harasses the Freeman family.[2]
Reverend Rollo Goodlove (voiced by CeeLo Green) – Reverend Rollo Goodlove is an African-American left-wing activist whose activism seems more to get him media exposure than to show his opinion on the issue. He originally appeared in the Boondocks episode "The S-Word", as a supporter of the Freemans after Mr. Petto used a racial "slur" on Riley. He then turned it into a political debate between himself and Ann Coulter (which was carefully orchestrated) giving him more media exposure. His protest was overshadowed (forcefully with rifles) by elderly women protested for the right to own guns. Granddad was certain he will receive lots of money for the incident. He also helped Huey in a hunger strike in an attempt to pull BET off the air, but Rollo was offered a TV sitcom to be aired on BET, which led to him no longer aiding Huey's strike. His character is loosely based on Rev. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.
Cynthia "Cindy/C Murder/Fearsome" McPhearson (voiced by Tara Strong) – Cynthia is a girl who originally appeared as a recurring character in the comic strip as a girl in Huey's class who is oblivious to racial issues. She enjoys rap music, especially Snoop Dogg. In the TV series, she appears as an extremely-talented junior basketball player for her team, is well-versed (yet overblown) in AAVE, and matches Riley in cockiness. Riley soon resorts to insulting her mother and the problems related to her in Cindy's life to put her off her game, which leads to her crying and running off the court. She appears in the episode "Ballin'" and "The Story of Gangstalicious Part 2", in Season 2 and in Season 3 in the episode "The Red Ball" as part of Huey's kickball team, although she doesn't speak. She has a bigger role in the Season 3 episode "The Fundraiser" as one of Riley's partners in his chocolate enterprise.
Bushido Brown (voiced by Cedric Yarbrough in the first appearance, Michael Jai White in the second appearance) – Bushiso Brown is a kung-fu bodyguard hired by Oprah. For a while on the show he is the best martial artist whose skills greatly surpass Huey Freeman. He appeared in the season one episode "Let's Nab Oprah" and the season two episode "Attack of the Killer Kung-Fu Wolf Bitch". He is killed in the season three episode "Stinkmeaner 3: The Hateocracy" after being decapitated in a fight with three elderly martial artists the "Hateocracy" (who were associated with Colonel H. Stinkmeaner) when they were out to kill Robert using a flying guillotine at the time when he was protecting them. Before his demise, he is revealed to be an arrogant jerk who overcharges his clients for his services. After Bushido Brown's death, the Hateocracy members are arrested by the police for the murder of Bushido Brown. Bushido Brown's character is heavily influenced by the character Black Belt Jones from Black Belt Jones and William from Enter the Dragon (both played by martial artist Jim Kelly), as well as Michael Jai White's own character parody "Black Dynamite" from the film Black Dynamite.[citation needed]
Mrs. Van Heusen (voiced by Marion Ross) – Mrs. Van Heusen is a right-wing elderly woman who is head of the local neighborhood watch, and Second Amendment Sisters. When Ed the 3rd and Gin Rummy are engaging in their local crime spree, she tries militarizing the neighborhood watch after the Freemans. During the Fried Chicken Flu, she organizes another militia to try and take the Freeman's supplies.
Deborah LeVil (voiced by Debra Wilson) – Deborah LeVil who is the fictional head of BET (Black EVIL Television). Deborah LeVil is a psychotically evil woman dedicated to the network's goal: the destruction of black people. She has been shown to murder her employees when they do not meet her insidious standards. As she states, "It's not enough that the shows are bad. They have to be EVIL as well!" She is mostly portrayed as a female version of Dr. Evil from the Austin Powers film series.
Cristal (voiced by Tiffany Thomas) – Cristal is a provocative looking young woman.


document_title: Snakehead (fish)

question_text: when did the snakehead fish arrive in the us

root

text: Snakehead (fish)

text: Description[edit]

text: The various species of snakeheads differ greatly in size. Dwarf snakeheads, such as Channa gachua, do not surpass 25 cm (10 in) in length. Most other snakeheads reach between 30 and 90 cm (12 and 35 in). Five species (C. argus, C. barca, C. marulius, C. micropeltes and C. striata) can reach 1 m (3 ft 3 in) or more.[3]

tag: p

text: Snakeheads are thrust-feeders that consume plankton, aquatic insects, and mollusks when small. As adults, they mostly feed on other fish (such as carp) or on frogs. In rare cases, small mammals such as rats are eaten.

text: History[edit]

text: The Channidae are well represented in the fossil record and known from numerous specimens. Research indicates snakeheads likely originated in the south Himalayan region of the Indian Subcontinent (modern-day northern India and eastern Pakistan) at least 50 million years ago (Mya), during the Early Eocene epoch. Two of the earliest known species, Eochanna chorlakkiensis Roe 1991 and Anchichanna kuldanensis Murray & Thewissen, 2008, have both been found in the Middle Eocene of Pakistan.[1][4] By 17 Mya, during the Early Miocene, Channidae had spread into western and central Eurasia, and by 8 Mya, during the late Tortonian, they could be found throughout Africa and East Asia.[5] As Channidae are adapted to climates of high precipitation with mean temperatures of 20 °C (68 °F), their migrations into Europe and Asia correspond to the development of the Intertropical Convergence Zone, which increased air humidity, and the intensification of the East Asian monsoon, respectively. Both weather patterns emerged due to greater vertical growth of the Alps, Pyrenees, and Himalayas, which affected Eurasian climatic patterns.[5]

text: Ecological concerns[edit]

text: Snakeheads can become invasive species and cause ecological damage because in many areas to which they are not native the absence of natural enemies gives them apex predator status. Not only can they breathe air, but they can also survive on land for up to four days, provided they are wet, and are known to migrate up to 400 metres (1/4 mile) on wet land to other bodies of water by wriggling with their body and fins. National Geographic has referred to snakeheads as "Fishzilla"[6] and the National Geographic Channel reported the "northern snakehead reaches sexual maturity by age two or three. Each spawning-age female can release up to 15,000 eggs at once. Snakeheads can mate as often as five times a year. This means in just two years, a single female can release up to 150,000 eggs."[7]

text: "Since 2002, it has been illegal to possess a live snakehead in many US states, where they are considered a destructive invasive species."[8] Virginia has criminalized the "introduc[tion]" of snakeheads into the state without specific authorization, although the relevant statute does not explain whether mere importation is sufficient to constitute "introduc[tion] into the Commonwealth" or whether instead release into the environment is required.[9]

text: Intentional introductions[edit]

text: Humans have been introducing snakeheads to nonindigenous waters for over 100 years. In parts of Asia and Africa, the snakehead is considered a valuable food fish, and is produced in aquacultures (fisheries motivation) or by ignorance (as was the case in Crofton, Maryland). Some examples of the introduction of snakeheads to nonindigenous waters include:

text:
Channa maculata was introduced to Madagascar and to Hawaii around the end of the 19th century. It can still be found there today.
Channa striata was introduced to islands east of the Wallace line by governmental programs in the latter half of the 20th century. In Fiji, the introduction failed.
Channa asiatica, which is native to southern China, was introduced to Taiwan and to southern Japan; the origin of and reason for the introduction are unknown.
Channa argus, which is native to northern China (Amur River), was introduced to central Asia (Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan). It was introduced from Korean Peninsula to Japan about 100 years ago due to fisheries motivations. Its introduction to Czechoslovakia by the government in the 1960s failed.

tag: ul

text: Reported sightings[edit]

text: In the United States[edit]

text: Snakeheads became a national news topic in the United States because of the appearance of Channa argus, commonly known as northern snakeheads, spawning in a Crofton, Maryland, pond in 2002.[8] Northern snakeheads became permanently established in the Potomac River around 2004;[10] and possibly established in Florida.[8] in approximately 120 miles (190 km) of river, the population has surpassed 21,000 individuals.[11]

text: According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, snakeheads have also been spotted in California, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.[12] In particular, the bullseye snakehead (Channa marulius) has become a major problem throughout South Florida, growing larger than 14 pounds (6.4 kg).[13]

text: World record[edit]

text: According to the International Game Fish Association, Caleb Newton, a Spotsylvania County, Virginia resident, caught a world record 17 pound, 6 ounce northern snakehead at the junction of Aquia Creek and the Potomac River on June 1, 2013. The previous record, two ounces smaller, had been caught in 2004 in Miki, Kagawa, Japan.[14]

text: As food[edit]

text: Snakeheads are considered valuable food fish. Called nga yant in Burmese, it is a prized fish eaten in a variety of ways. In Vietnam, they are called ca loc, ca qua, or ca chuoi; it is prized in clay pot dishes and pickled preparations. Larger species, such as Channa striata, Channa maculata, and Parachanna obscura, are farmed in aquaculture. In the United States, chefs have suggested controlling the snakehead invasion by serving them in restaurants.[15] In Indonesia, snakehead fish are called ikan gabus, served as the main parts of traditional dishes such as Betawi's pucung gabus, and considered to be a delicacy due to their rarity in wild and aquaculture, as they are harder to raise than other popular freshwater fish such as catfish and carp.

text: Classification[edit]

text: The snakeheads comprise two extant genera:

text:
Channa (36 species native to Asia)
Parachanna (four African species, including one only known from fossil remains)

text: Two other genera are only known from fossils:

text:
†Anchichanna (one species)
†Eochanna (one species)

text: In popular culture[edit]

text: After its release in non-native North American waters, either accidentally or intentionally, the aggressive and predator-free snakehead's reputation as a "Frankenfish"[16] or "monster fish" has become part of the culture[17] Besides mentions on TV shows such as The Sopranos,[18] the snakehead has been featured in three Sci-fi Channel original pictures entitled Snakehead Terror, Frankenfish, and Swarm of the Snakehead. In the Animal Planet TV series River Monsters, Jeremy Wade shows a dramatization of a snakehead, "the fish from hell", stalking an unsuspecting baby and Chihuahua. With the help of a snakehead researcher, however, Wade shows that although it is capable of living outside of water and is able to move on land, its weak pectoral muscles make movement difficult and render the snakehead an unlikely "stalker" on land.[19]


document_title: Three-point field goal

question_text: when did three point line start in high school

text: Three-point field goal

text: History[edit]

text: The three-point line was first tested at the collegiate level in 1945 in a game between Columbia and Fordham, but it was not kept as a rule. At the direction of Abe Saperstein, the American Basketball League became the first basketball league to institute the rule in 1961. Its three-point line was a radius of 25 feet (7.62 m) from the baskets, except along the sides.[2] The Eastern Professional Basketball League followed in its 1963–64 season.

text:
The three-point shot later became popularized by the American Basketball Association (ABA), introduced in its inaugural 1967–68 season.[3][4] ABA commissioner George Mikan stated the three-pointer "would give the smaller player a chance to score and open up the defense to make the game more enjoyable for the fans."[5] During the 1970s, the ABA used the three-point shot, along with the slam dunk, as a marketing tool to compete with the NBA; its ninth and final season concluded in the spring of
1976.[6][7][8]

text: Three years later in June 1979, the NBA adopted the three-point line for a one-year trial for the 1979–80 season,[9][10][11] despite the view of many that it was a gimmick.[12] Chris Ford of the Boston Celtics is widely credited with making the first three-point shot in NBA history on October 12, 1979; the season opener at Boston Garden was more noted for the debut of Larry Bird (and two new head coaches).[13][14] Rick Barry of the Houston Rockets, in his final season, also made one in the same game, and Kevin Grevey of the Washington Bullets made one that Friday night as well.[14][15]

text: The sport's international governing body, FIBA, introduced the three-point line in 1984, at 6.25 m (20 ft 6 in), and it made its Olympic debut in 1988 in Seoul, South Korea.

text: The NCAA's Southern Conference became the first collegiate conference to use the three-point rule, adopting a 22-foot (6.71 m) line for the 1980–81 season.[16][17] Ronnie Carr of Western Carolina was the first to score a three-point field goal in college basketball history on November 29, 1980.[17][18][19] Over the following five years, NCAA conferences differed in their use of the rule and distance required for a three-pointer. The line was as close as 17 ft 9 in (5.41 m) in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), and as far away as 22 ft (6.71 m) in the Big Sky.[20][21][22]

text: Used only in conference play for several years, it was adopted by the NCAA in April 1986 for the 1986–87 season at 19 ft 9 in (6.02 m)[23][24][25][26] and was first used in the NCAA Tournament in March 1987.[27] The three-pointer was adopted in women's basketball on an experimental basis for that season at the same distance, and made its use mandatory beginning in 1987–88.[28]  In 2007, the NCAA lengthened the men's distance by a foot to 20 ft 9 in (6.32 m), effective with the 2008–09 season,[29] and the women's line was moved to match the men's in 2011–12.[28] American high schools, along with elementary and middle schools, adopted a 19 ft 9 in (6.02 m) line nationally in 1987, a year after the NCAA.[30] The NCAA used the FIBA three-point line (see below) in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) in 2018.[31]

text: For three seasons beginning in 1994–95, the NBA attempted to address decreased scoring by shortening the distance of the line from 23 ft 9 in (7.24 m) (22 ft (6.71 m) at the corners) to a uniform 22 ft (6.71 m) around the basket. From the 1997–98 season on, the NBA reverted the line to its original distance of 23 ft 9 in (22 ft at the corners, with a 3-inch differential). Ray Allen is currently the NBA all-time leader in career made three-pointers with 2,973.[32]

text: In 2008, FIBA announced that the distance would be increased by 50 cm (19.7 in) to 6.75 m (22 ft 1 3⁄4 in), with the change being phased in beginning in October 2010. In December 2012, the WNBA announced that it would be using the FIBA distance, starting in 2013. The NBA has discussed adding a four-point line, according to president Rod Thorn.[33]

text: In the NBA, three-point field goals have become increasingly more frequent along the years, with effectiveness increasing slightly. The 1979-80 season had an average 2.2 three-point goals per game and 6.6 attempts (33% effectiveness). The 1989-90 season had an average 4.8 three-point goals per game and 13.7 attempts (35% effectiveness). The 2009-10 season had an average 6.4 three-point goals per game and 18.1 attempts (36% effectiveness). The 2016-17 season had an average 9.7 three-point goals per game and 27.0 attempts (36% effectiveness).[34]

text: Rule specifications[edit]

text:
A three-point line consists of an arc at a set radius measured from the point on the floor directly below the center of the basket, and two parallel lines equidistant from each sideline extending from the nearest end line to the point at which they intersect the arc. In the NBA and FIBA standard, the arc spans the width of the court until it is a specified minimum distance from each sideline. The three-point line then becomes parallel to the sidelines from those points to the baseline. The unusual formation of the three-point line at these levels allows players some space from which to attempt a three-point shot at the corners of the court; the arc would be less than 2 feet (0.61 m) from each sideline at the corners if it was a continuous arc. In the NCAA and American high school standards, the arc spans 180° around the basket, then becomes parallel to the sidelines from the plane of the basket center to the baseline (5 feet 3 inches or 1.60 metres).
The distance of the three-point line to the center of the hoop varies by level:

text:
Arc radius

Minimum distancefrom sidelines

NBA

23 ft 9 in (7.24 m)

3 ft 0 in (0.91 m)

[35]

FIBA, WNBA

22 ft 2 in (6.76 m)

4 ft 1 in (1.24 m)

[36]

NCAA

20 ft 9 in (6.32 m)

4 ft 3 in (1.30 m)

[37]

U.S. high schools

19 ft 9 in (6.02 m)

5 ft 3 in (1.60 m)

[38]

tag: table

text: A player's feet must be completely behind the three-point line at the time of the shot or jump in order to make a three-point attempt; if the player's feet are on or in front of the line, it is a two-point attempt. A player is allowed to jump from outside the line and land inside the line to make a three-point attempt, as long as the ball is released in mid-air.

text: An official raises his/her arm with three fingers extended to signal the shot attempt. If the attempt is successful, he/she raises his/her other arm with all fingers fully extended in manner similar to a football official signifying successful field goal to indicate the three-point goal. The official must recognize it for it to count as three points. Instant replay has sometimes been used, depending on league rules. The NBA,[39] WNBA, FIBA and the NCAA specifically allow replay for this purpose. In NBA, FIBA, and WNBA games, video replay does not have to occur immediately following a shot; play can continue and the officials can adjust the scoring later in the game, after reviewing the video. However, in late game situations, play may be paused pending a review.

text: If a shooter is fouled while attempting a three-pointer and subsequently misses the shot, the shooter is awarded three free-throw attempts. If a player completes a three-pointer while being fouled, the player is awarded one free-throw for a possible 4-point play. Conceivably, if a player completed a three-pointer while being fouled, and that foul was ruled as either a Flagrant 1 or a Flagrant 2 foul, the player would be awarded two free throws for a possible 5-point play.

text: Related concepts[edit]

text: Major League Lacrosse features a two-point line which forms a 15-yard (14 m) arc around the front of the goal. Shots taken from behind this line count for two points, as opposed to the standard one point.

text: In gridiron football, a standard field goal is worth three points; various professional and semi-pro leagues have experimented with four-point field goals. NFL Europe and the Stars Football League adopted a rule similar to basketball's three-point line in which an additional point was awarded for longer field goals; in both leagues any field goal of 50 yards (46 m) or more was worth four points. The Arena Football League awards four points for any successful drop kicked field goal (like the three-point shot, the drop kick is more challenging than a standard place kick, as the bounce of the ball makes a kick less predictable, and arena football also uses narrower goal posts for all kicks than the outdoor game does).

text: During the existence of the World Hockey Association in the 1970s, there were proposals for two-point hockey goals for shots taken beyond an established distance (one proposal was a 44-foot (13.4m) arc, which would have intersected the faceoff circles), but this proposal gained little support and faded after the WHA merged with the NHL. It was widely believed that long-distance shots in hockey had little direct relation to skill (usually resulting more from goalies' vision being screened or obscured), plus with the lower scoring intrinsic to the sport a two-point goal was seen as disruptive of the structure of the game.

text: The Super Goal is a similar concept in Australian rules football, in which a 50-meter (55 yd) arc determines the value of a goal; within the arc, it is the usual 6 points, but 9 points are scored for a "super goal" scored from outside the arc. To date the super goal is only used in pre-season games and not in the season proper.[40]

text: The National Professional Soccer League II, which awarded two points for all goals except those on the power play, also used a three-point line, drawn 45 feet (14 m) from the goal. It has since been adopted by some other indoor soccer leagues.


document_title: Climate of Chicago

question_text: when does it usually stop snowing in chicago

text: Climate of Chicago

text: Official locations[edit]

text: The National Weather Service office in Chicago has one of the longest periods of official weather records, dating back to 1870, though all of the 1870 and 1871 weather records taken at 181 West Washington Street were lost in the Great Chicago Fire. As for the two major airports located in Chicago, Midway Airport began observations in 1928, and O'Hare Airport began observations in 1958. Both sites have served as official observation locations, with the latter being the current location where Chicago's official weather data is recorded. For Midway Airport, weather data prior to July 1, 1942 and after January 16, 1980 are not part of the official climate record of Chicago. All weather data taken at O'Hare from the beginning of observations in 1958 until January 17, 1980 are not part of the official climate record of Chicago.

text: Here is a list of official weather locations for the Chicago office:[1]

text:
Dates
Location
Remarks

October 15, 1870 – October 8, 1871
181 W. Washington St.
All records lost due to Great Chicago Fire

October 15, 1871 – June 11, 1872
427 W. Randolph St.

June 11, 1872 – June 8, 1873
20 N. Wacker Dr.

June 8, 1873 – January 1, 1887
Roanoke Building

January 1, 1887 – February 1, 1890
Chicago Opera House

February 1, 1890 – July 1, 1905
Auditorium Tower
Automatic rain gauge installed in 1897

July 1, 1905 – December 31, 1925
U.S. Court House
Supplemental observations through 1970

January 1, 1926 – June 30, 1942
University of Chicago
Supplemental observations through 1962

July 1, 1942 – January 16, 1980
Midway Airport
Continues to provide observations

January 17, 1980 – present
O'Hare Airport

text: Note: Some of the addresses prior to 1909 are different than the post-1909 addresses

text: Data[edit]

text:
[show]Climate data for Chicago (Midway Airport), 1981–2010 normals,[a] extremes 1928–present

Month
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Year

Record high °F (°C)
67
(19)
75
(24)
86
(30)
92
(33)
102
(39)
107
(42)
109
(43)
102
(39)
101
(38)
94
(34)
81
(27)
72
(22)
109
(43)

Mean maximum °F (°C)
52.3
(11.3)
57.2
(14)
73.0
(22.8)
82.2
(27.9)
88.2
(31.2)
94.1
(34.5)
96.5
(35.8)
94.1
(34.5)
90.5
(32.5)
82.2
(27.9)
68.7
(20.4)
55.7
(13.2)
97.7
(36.5)

Average high °F (°C)
31.5
(−0.3)
35.8
(2.1)
46.8
(8.2)
59.2
(15.1)
70.2
(21.2)
79.9
(26.6)
84.2
(29)
82.1
(27.8)
75.3
(24.1)
62.8
(17.1)
48.6
(9.2)
35.3
(1.8)
59.4
(15.2)

Daily mean °F (°C)
24.8
(−4)
28.7
(−1.8)
38.8
(3.8)
50.4
(10.2)
60.9
(16.1)
71.0
(21.7)
75.9
(24.4)
74.1
(23.4)
66.4
(19.1)
54.2
(12.3)
41.5
(5.3)
29.0
(−1.7)
51.4
(10.8)

Average low °F (°C)
18.2
(−7.7)
21.7
(−5.7)
30.9
(−0.6)
41.7
(5.4)
51.6
(10.9)
62.1
(16.7)
67.5
(19.7)
66.2
(19)
57.5
(14.2)
45.7
(7.6)
34.5
(1.4)
22.7
(−5.2)
43.5
(6.4)

Mean minimum °F (°C)
−3.3
(−19.6)
2.4
(−16.4)
14.3
(−9.8)
27.0
(−2.8)
38.4
(3.6)
48.6
(9.2)
56.8
(13.8)
56.1
(13.4)
43.1
(6.2)
31.1
(−0.5)
19.9
(−6.7)
2.2
(−16.6)
−8.7
(−22.6)

Record low °F (°C)
−25
(−32)
−20
(−29)
−7
(−22)
10
(−12)
28
(−2)
35
(2)
46
(8)
43
(6)
34
(1)
20
(−7)
−3
(−19)
−20
(−29)
−25
(−32)

Average precipitation inches (mm)
2.06
(52.3)
1.94
(49.3)
2.72
(69.1)
3.64
(92.5)
4.13
(104.9)
4.06
(103.1)
4.01
(101.9)
3.99
(101.3)
3.31
(84.1)
3.24
(82.3)
3.42
(86.9)
2.57
(65.3)
39.09
(992.9)

Average snowfall inches (cm)
11.5
(29.2)
9.1
(23.1)
5.4
(13.7)
1.0
(2.5)
trace
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0.1
(0.3)
1.3
(3.3)
8.7
(22.1)
37.1
(94.2)

Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)
10.7
8.8
11.2
11.1
11.4
10.3
9.9
9.0
8.2
10.2
11.2
11.1
123.1

Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)
8.1
5.5
3.8
0.7
0
0
0
0
0
0.1
1.8
6.7
26.7

Source: NOAA,[2][3][4] WRCC[5]

text:
[show]Climate data for Chicago (O'Hare Int'l Airport), 1981–2010 normals,[a] extremes 1871–present[b]

Month
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Year

Record high °F (°C)
67
(19)
75
(24)
88
(31)
91
(33)
98
(37)
104
(40)
105
(41)
102
(39)
101
(38)
94
(34)
81
(27)
71
(22)
105
(41)

Mean maximum °F (°C)
51.4
(10.8)
56.5
(13.6)
72.4
(22.4)
81.7
(27.6)
87.2
(30.7)
93.6
(34.2)
95.5
(35.3)
93.4
(34.1)
89.7
(32.1)
81.1
(27.3)
67.6
(19.8)
55.0
(12.8)
96.8
(36)

Average high °F (°C)
31.0
(−0.6)
35.3
(1.8)
46.6
(8.1)
59.0
(15)
70.0
(21.1)
79.7
(26.5)
84.1
(28.9)
81.9
(27.7)
74.8
(23.8)
62.3
(16.8)
48.2
(9)
34.8
(1.6)
59.1
(15.1)

Daily mean °F (°C)
23.8
(−4.6)
27.7
(−2.4)
37.9
(3.3)
48.9
(9.4)
59.1
(15.1)
68.9
(20.5)
74.0
(23.3)
72.4
(22.4)
64.6
(18.1)
52.5
(11.4)
40.3
(4.6)
27.7
(−2.4)
49.9
(9.9)

Average low °F (°C)
16.5
(−8.6)
20.1
(−6.6)
29.2
(−1.6)
38.8
(3.8)
48.3
(9.1)
58.1
(14.5)
63.9
(17.7)
62.9
(17.2)
54.3
(12.4)
42.8
(6)
32.4
(0.2)
20.7
(−6.3)
40.8
(4.9)

Mean minimum °F (°C)
−5.6
(−20.9)
−0.3
(−17.9)
11.9
(−11.2)
23.5
(−4.7)
35.6
(2)
44.3
(6.8)
52.0
(11.1)
52.6
(11.4)
39.2
(4)
28.4
(−2)
16.9
(−8.4)
−0.1
(−17.8)
−10.9
(−23.8)

Record low °F (°C)
−27
(−33)
−21
(−29)
−12
(−24)
7
(−14)
27
(−3)
35
(2)
45
(7)
42
(6)
29
(−2)
14
(−10)
−2
(−19)
−25
(−32)
−27
(−33)

Average precipitation inches (mm)
1.73
(43.9)
1.79
(45.5)
2.50
(63.5)
3.38
(85.9)
3.68
(93.5)
3.45
(87.6)
3.70
(94)
4.90
(124.5)
3.21
(81.5)
3.15
(80)
3.15
(80)
2.25
(57.2)
36.89
(937)

Average snowfall inches (cm)
10.8
(27.4)
9.1
(23.1)
5.6
(14.2)
1.2
(3)
trace
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0.2
(0.5)
1.2
(3)
8.2
(20.8)
36.3
(92.2)

Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)
10.5
8.8
11.1
12.0
11.6
10.2
9.8
9.8
8.3
10.2
10.8
11.0
124.1

Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)
8.2
5.9
4.2
0.9
0
0
0
0
0
0.2
1.7
6.9
28.0

Average relative humidity (%)
72.2
71.6
69.7
64.9
64.1
65.6
68.5
70.7
71.1
68.6
72.5
75.5
69.6

Mean monthly sunshine hours
135.8
136.2
187.0
215.3
281.9
311.4
318.4
283.0
226.6
193.2
113.3
106.3
2,508.4

Percent possible sunshine
46
46
51
54
62
68
69
66
60
56
38
37
56

Source: NOAA (relative humidity and sun 1961–1990)[3][8][9]

text:
[hide]Climate data for Chicago Aurora Municipal Airport, Illinois 1981–2010 normals

Month
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Year

Record high °F (°C)
67
(19)
72
(22)
83
(28)
93
(34)
105
(41)
106
(41)
111
(44)
105
(41)
103
(39)
90
(32)
81
(27)
69
(21)
111
(44)

Average high °F (°C)
29.1
(−1.6)
33.7
(0.9)
47.0
(8.3)
60.0
(15.6)
70.6
(21.4)
80.1
(26.7)
83.5
(28.6)
81.2
(27.3)
74.9
(23.8)
62.2
(16.8)
47.8
(8.8)
32.8
(0.4)
58.6
(14.8)

Daily mean °F (°C)
20.8
(−6.2)
24.9
(−3.9)
37.0
(2.8)
48.5
(9.2)
58.8
(14.9)
68.8
(20.4)
71.7
(22.1)
70.1
(21.2)
62.8
(17.1)
50.6
(10.3)
38.1
(3.4)
25.1
(−3.8)
48.1
(9)

Average low °F (°C)
12.6
(−10.8)
16.2
(−8.8)
26.9
(−2.8)
37.0
(2.8)
47.1
(8.4)
57.5
(14.2)
59.8
(15.4)
59.0
(15)
50.7
(10.4)
39.0
(3.9)
28.4
(−2)
17.5
(−8.1)
37.6
(3.1)

Record low °F (°C)
−33
(−36)
−25
(−32)
−15
(−26)
8
(−13)
21
(−6)
34
(1)
40
(4)
37
(3)
25
(−4)
11
(−12)
−11
(−24)
−25
(−32)
−33
(−36)

Average precipitation inches (mm)
1.47
(37.3)
1.62
(41.1)
2.23
(56.6)
3.38
(85.9)
4.26
(108.2)
4.01
(101.9)
4.19
(106.4)
4.12
(104.6)
3.44
(87.4)
3.12
(79.2)
3.14
(79.8)
1.96
(49.8)
36.86
(936.2)

Average snowfall inches (cm)
100
(254)
70
(178)
37
(94)
8
(20)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
1
(3)
14
(36)
75
(191)
305
(775)

Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)
9.7
7.8
10.4
11.8
11.2
10.2
9.3
10.0
8.9
8.9
10.2
10.7
119.1

Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)
6.7
4.5
2.1
0.4
0
0
0
0
0
0.1
1.2
4.9
19.9

Source: NOAA (normals, 1981–2010)[10]

text: Seasons[edit]

text:
Chicago

Climate chart (explanation)

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

2.1

31
18

1.9

35
21

2.7

47
31

3.6

59
42

4.1

70
52

4.1

80
62

4

84
68

4

82
66

3.3

75
58

3.2

63
46

3.4

49
35

2.6

35
22

Average max. and min. temperatures in °F

Precipitation totals in inches

Source: NOAA

[show]Metric conversion

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

52

0
−8

49

2
−6

69

8
−1

92

15
5

105

21
11

103

27
17

102

29
20

101

28
19

84

24
14

82

17
8

87

9
1

65

2
−5

Average max. and min. temperatures in °C

Precipitation totals in mm

text: Winter[edit]

text: Winter in Chicago proves quite variable: Seasonal snowfall in the city has ranged from 9.8 inches (24.9 cm) (in 1920–21) up to 89.7 in (228 cm) (in 1978–79), and the average annual snowfall in Chicago is 36 inches (91 cm).[11] Most winters produce many snow falls during the season in light accumulations of around 2 in (5.1 cm). Cities on the other side of Lake Michigan usually receive more snow than Chicago because of the lake-effect snow that falls on these communities, even though northeasterly winds can sometimes bring lake-effect snow to Chicago area too. However, every three years or so during the winter Chicago experiences a heavier snowstorm that can produce over 10 in (25 cm) of snow over a 1- to 3-day period, a level of snowfall very often seen in cities on the "snowbelt" on other side of the lake such as Grand Rapids, Michigan, Kalamazoo, Michigan, and South Bend, Indiana.

text: Winter temperatures can vary tremendously within the span of one week. The daily average high temperature in January at O'Hare is 31.0 °F (−0.6 °C) with the average daily low of 16.5 °F (−8.6 °C) and the daily mean of 23.6 °F (−4.7 °C). Temperatures drop to or below 0 °F (−18 °C) on 5.5 nights annually at Midway and 8.2 nights at O'Hare and up to 10–14 nights in some far western and northern suburbs,[12] although subzero (°F) readings in the absence of snow cover are rare.[13] There have been streaks of multiple winter seasons without a single subzero reading, yet there have also been winters with 20 or more subzero readings. The highest temperature recorded during the meteorological winter months of December, January, and February is 75 °F (24 °C), set on February 27, 1976. The lowest temperature recorded during meteorological winter is −27 °F (−33 °C), set on January 20, 1985. In addition, the all time record low maximum temperature of −11 °F (−24 °C) was set on December 24, 1983, and tied on January 18, 1994.

text: The warming effect of Lake Michigan during the winter makes subzero temperatures somewhat less common on the lakefront than in the more inland parts of the city. Highs reach 50 °F (10 °C) an average of 8.8 days each winter from December to February at Midway.

text: Based on 30-year averages obtained from NOAA's National Climatic Data Center for the months of December, January and February, Weather Channel ranked Chicago the sixth-coldest major U.S. city as of 2014.[14]

text: Although it is extremely rare, temperatures during late winter (generally March 1–20) can reach up to and well over 80 °F (27 °C). In 2012, there were eight days in the month of March with temperatures 80 °F (27 °C)+ (with a ninth day occurring in many suburban areas) during the record-breaking March 2012 North American heat wave. The last couple of 80 °F (27 °C) days in this record-breaking stretch of warmth occurred after the vernal equinox.

text: Spring[edit]

text: Spring in Chicago is perhaps the city's wettest season: Winter conditions can persist well into April and even occasionally into May. Thunderstorms are especially prevalent in the spring time as the city's lakeside location makes it a center of conflicts between large volumes of warm and cold air, which can trigger a wide variety of severe weather.

text: On the other hand, large snowfalls can also occur in late March and in early April. For example, in 1970, over 10 in (25 cm) of snow fell in a storm that occurred on April 1–2.[15] Twelve years later, Opening Day for the Chicago White Sox was postponed due to another 9-inch (23 cm) snowfall that had occurred on April 5.[16] Even more extraordinary, over 18 in (46 cm) of snow fell on March 25–26, 1930, which remains one of the city's five biggest recorded snowstorms despite it occurring past the vernal equinox.[17] The average date for last measurable snowfall (≥0.1 in or 0.25 cm) is April 1.

text: Temperatures vary tremendously in the springtime; at 100 °F (38 °C), March is the month with the greatest span between the record high and low. At O'Hare, temperatures as low as 7 °F (−14 °C) and 31 °F (−1 °C) have been recorded as late as April 7 and May 21, respectively. Conversely, in official records, the earliest triple-digit (100 °F (38 °C)) high occurred on June 1, 1934, when official readings were taken closer to Lake Michigan. Though rare, triple-digit heat has occurred in late May at Midway Airport and in outlying suburban locations. Typically, the last freezing low of the season on average occurs on April 13 at Midway and ten days later at O'Hare. The highest temperature recorded during the meteorological spring months of March, April, and May is, officially, 98 °F (37 °C) on May 31, 1934, when weather records were still taken near Lake Michigan. The lowest temperature recorded in meteorological spring is −12 °F (−24 °C), set on March 4, 1873.

text: During the springtime, the effects of Lake Michigan are most prevalent. During this season, the lake is still quite cold, as the effects of much warmer temperatures are slow to affect the large body of water of Lake Michigan. It is common for Lake Michigan shoreline and water temperatures to remain in the 40s even into May. If the winds blow from the east, or from Lake Michigan into the city, a wide discrepancy in temperatures in a matter of miles can be found, especially on particularly warm days. It is not uncommon for high temperatures to be officially recorded in the 80s and occasionally 90s at O'Hare, Midway, and in suburban locations but to have temperatures be only in the 40s or 50s along the immediate lakeshore.

text: Summer[edit]

text: On a typical summer day, humidity is usually moderately high, and temperatures ordinarily reach anywhere between 78 and 92 °F (26 and 33 °C). Overnight temperatures in summer usually drop to around 65–70 °F (18–21 °C), although even in July and August there can be several nights where the temperature drops below 60 °F (16 °C), particularly during the cooler summers. Conversely, on the other extreme, temperatures can on a rare basis remain above 80 °F (27 °C) overnight, though this level of overnight warmth is generally limited to the city proper with its urban heat island effects along with Lake Michigan nearby. On such warm nights, especially during strong heat waves, most suburban locations drop down to between 75 and 79 °F (24 and 26 °C) but quickly rebound in the early morning hours. During such strong heat waves, the outlying suburban areas can record temperatures more than 5 °F (−15 °C) above city and lakeshore locations.

text: A perfect example of such an occurrence happening, although considered "unofficial", occurred during the Dust Bowl years. Midway Airport recorded a record eight consecutive 100 °F-plus days in July 1936. In that heat wave, temperatures at the lake remained in the middle and upper 90s Fahrenheit (middle 30s Celsius), whereas Midway Airport recorded temperatures over 100 °F (38 °C) for nearly two weeks, peaking at 107 °F (42 °C) on July 11. The official record high for Chicago for July 11 is also from 1936—but is recorded as just 97 °F (36 °C). Further west in what would today be the near and far suburbs (e.g. DuPage County and westward), temperatures reached a blistering 110 °F (43 °C) or still higher at points during this massive heat wave. These extreme temperatures are not shown in the official records because daily weather observations were taken at the University of Chicago until 1942. The University of Chicago is close to the lake, which can and does reduce temperatures in the immediate shoreline area in the summer.

text: The highest temperature recorded in Chicago during the meteorological summer months of June, July, and August, which is also additionally the all-time record high in the city, is 105 °F (41 °C), set on July 24, 1934, though at Midway Airport, a future observation site, the temperature reached 109 °F (43 °C). The lowest temperature recorded in the meteorological summer months is 35 °F (2 °C), set on June 4, 1945. In addition, the all time record high minimum temperature of 85 °F (29 °C) was set on July 29, 1916.

text: Chicago's yearly precipitation comes in at an average of about 36 inches (910 mm), but during the summer, rain arises from short-lived hit-or-miss rain rather than actual prolonged rainfalls, and thunderstorms also occur with regularity at night. In a normal summer, temperatures exceed 90 °F (32 °C) on 23 days. Summer is both the rainiest and sunniest season here;[18] only the three months of June through August experience more than 65% of possible sunshine.[9]

text: In July 2012 Chicago reached and exceeded 100 °F (38 °C) for three consecutive days at O'Hare Airport with highs reaching 103 °F (39 °C) in the city and many suburban areas recording temperatures between 105 and 110 °F (41 and 43 °C). It was the first time in 65 years that Chicago had ever seen a triad of 100 °F (38 °C) days.[19] Chicago nearly recorded a fourth consecutive 100 °F (38 °C) day, but the temperature reached 98 degrees at O'Hare in late morning before a cold front came through the area and cooled temperatures off slightly in the city area, holding in the lower 90s. The effects of the cold front did not affect many suburban areas, as temperatures reached or exceeded 100 °F (38 °C) for a fourth consecutive day throughout much of the region.

text: During the summer, Lake Michigan continues to have an effect on Chicago weather, but it is not as common or as strong as it is during the spring months. On very hot days, temperatures can still be cooler along the immediate shoreline and slightly inland of the lake if winds blow from the east. Temperatures can be held in the 70s or 80s in these areas while outlying and suburban areas temperatures are rising well into the 90s. Temperatures can also reach extreme levels of heat on the immediate shoreline, such as when the air temperature reached 105 °F (41 °C) at Northerly Island during the aforementioned July 2012 heat wave.

text: Autumn[edit]

text: The extreme heat that Chicago is capable of experiencing during the height of the summer season can persist into the autumn season. Temperatures have reached 100 °F (38 °C) as late as September 7 (with 99 °F (37 °C) occurring as late as September 29), and temperatures have reached 90 °F (32 °C) as late as October 6, which occurred in 1963, with a temperature of 94 °F (34 °C) on that day. Conversely, temperatures have dropped below freezing overnight as early as September 23, and temperatures below 0 °F (−18 °C) have arrived as early as November 23. Although extremely rare, temperatures at or above 70 °F (21 °C) have been recorded into early December, most recently in 2012 when 70 °F (21 °C) was recorded on December 3, some surrounding areas reaching temperatures as high as 72 °F (22 °C) to 75 °F (24 °C).

text: Autumn, in some ways, is a calmer season than any of the other three in Chicago. This does not mean that wild weather can't happen. The first freeze of the season on average occurs on October 24 at Midway and 11 days earlier at O'Hare. In most years, a period of warm weather, known as an Indian summer, occurs well after the autumnal equinox has occurred. In these so-called Indian summers, unusually warm weather can persist for several days well into October, and in particularly warm autumns, into November. For example, during the 2005 American League Division Series, for both home games between the Chicago White Sox and the Boston Red Sox, temperatures soared to near 90 °F (32 °C), despite the fact that it was already well into October. On top of that, during the same warm stretch in October 2005, for two consecutive days the overnight temperature failed to drop below 70 °F (21 °C), a rare occurrence for Chicago in October.

text: The highest temperature recorded during the meteorological autumn months of September, October, and November is 101 °F (38 °C), set on back to back days, September 1–2, 1953, closely followed by Chicago's latest 100 °F (38 °C) on September 7, 1960. The lowest temperature recorded during the meteorological autumn months is −2 °F (−19 °C), set on November 29, 1872 and tied on November 24, 1950.

text: Autumn can bring heavy rain showers, some of which are capable of producing serious flooding. As the winter solstice nears, the threat of a major winter or snowstorm grows, and there have been major winter storms around the Thanksgiving holiday, causing major delays at the city's two major airports. The first measurable ≥0.1 in (0.25 cm) snow on average falls on November 19. However, in the 2012–13 winter season, the first measurable snow did not fall until December 20, 2012, eclipsing the previous record of December 17, 1899. The 2012–13 autumn/winter season would fail to produce a daily maximum temperature below freezing 32 °F (0 °C) until January 1, 2013, the first such time that has happened in Chicago weather records. The entire calendar year of 2012 did not record a temperature lower than 5 °F (−15 °C). The largest snowstorm before the winter solstice dropped 14.8 inches (380 mm) at Midway Airport in December 1929.

text: During the autumn, the effects of Lake Michigan are usually reversed from the spring or summer, particularly in the late autumn. Temperatures near the immediate lakeshore can be a few degrees warmer than in outlying areas, especially during nighttime due to the delayed effects of cooler temperatures on the large body of water. It is rare, though possible, during the Indian summer when unusually warm temperatures are occurring in the inland areas of the city and suburbs for temperatures to be somewhat cooler along the lake as often happens during the spring season.

text: Extremes[edit]

text: The highest temperature ever recorded in the Chicago city limits is an unofficial 109 °F (43 °C) on July 24, 1934, at Midway Airport. The official reading of 105 °F (41 °C) for that day was taken at the University of Chicago campus near the shoreline off Lake Michigan. The 105° high that day is the highest official temperature ever recorded in the city.[20] On July 29, 1916, the low temperature sank to only 85 °F (29 °C). Many suburban locations have all-time records that have surpassed 110 °F (43 °C).

text: Readings near the lake can be several degrees cooler than inland locations if lake breezes are present, which suggests that the higher unofficial reading may also be accurate. During the Chicago Heat Wave of 1995, official temperatures reached 104 °F (40 °C) at O'Hare Airport and 106 °F (41 °C) at Midway, but high humidity pushed the heat index to 15–20 °F (8–11 °C) above actual air temperatures, resulting in heat indexes well over 120 °F (49 °C). The coldest temperature ever recorded in Chicago city limits is −27 °F (−33 °C) at O'Hare on January 20, 1985, though unofficial temperatures as low as −33 °F (−36 °C) have been recorded at Chicago Aurora Airport in far western suburbs and in the rural areas to the west of Chicago.[21] On December 24, 1983, and January 18, 1994, the high temperature reached only −11 °F (−24 °C).

text: The greatest 24-hour precipitation was 6.86 in (174.2 mm) at O'Hare on July 23, 2011, while the heaviest 24-hour snowfall was 18.6 in (47.2 cm), again at O'Hare, on January 2, 1999. Daily snow depth has amassed as high as 29 in (74 cm) on January 14, 1979; as of 2018, January 1979 alone holds 8 of the top 10 daily snow-depth measurements.

text: Windy City[edit]

text: Chicago is known as the Windy City. The "Windy City" moniker did not originally refer to Chicago's climate. It is believed to have been created by a New York newspaper writer deriding Chicagoans' bluster as they promoted their city as the site of the 1893 Columbian Exposition. In terms of climate, Chicago is slightly windier than the average American city. Average wind speeds range from 8 miles per hour (13 km/h) in late summer to 12 miles per hour (19 km/h) in spring months.

text: Lake breeze[edit]

text: Chicago can be cooler and moister than other parts of Illinois because of its proximity to the relatively cooler waters of Lake Michigan, effects which are most pronounced during spring and early summer. A frequent lakeshore breeze pushes much cooler, moister air into Chicago than the usual hot air of the Plains States (usually a moist air mass depending on upper level circulation), but the effect can be so localized that only the immediate waterfront neighborhoods (both north and southside lake adjacent communities) are cooler than inland parts of the city. South, west and southwestern suburbs can be more than 20 °F (11 °C) warmer than the lakefront at some times of year.[citation needed] The lake breeze also has other effects, including dense fog spilling into the city. Because of the closed-loop circulation pattern with a lake breeze that moves back and forth across the city, it is thought to significantly increase low-level ozone counts.[22] Differing wind direction on either side of the thermal dividing line allows for sharp updrafts under certain conditions, favorable to thunderstorm development. Offshore or land breezes shutdown the lake breeze and can have the opposite effect, with over lake convection occurring, usually in mid- to late summer and autumn. As a general rule, the opposite trend occurs during the winter—winter temperatures are warmer along the lakeshore and downtown than inland.

text: Notes[edit]

text:
^ Jump up to: a b Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1981 to 2010.
Jump up ^ Official records for Chicago were kept at various locations in downtown from January 1871 to 31 December 1925, University of Chicago from 1 January 1926 to 30 June 1942, Midway Airport from 1 July 1942 to 16 January 1980, and at O'Hare Airport since 17 January 1980.[6][7]

tag: ol


document_title: American Cocker Spaniel

question_text: what is the average lifespan of a cocker spaniel

text: American Cocker Spaniel

text: History[edit]

text: The word spanyell is thought to date from the late 12th century when it was used to name a type of dog imported into England from Spain, with the span part of the word referring to the country of origin. Records from the mid-14th century show that selective breeding was already in place, with the breed being separated into two distinct types, called water spaniels and land spaniels.[3] By 1801, the smaller variety of land spaniel was called the Cocker or Cocking Spaniel, so named for its use in flushing woodcock.[4][5]

text: According to historical records, the first spaniel was brought to North America aboard the Mayflower which sailed from Plymouth, England and landed in New England in 1620.[6][7] The first Cocker Spaniel recorded in America was a liver and white dog named Captain, who was registered with the American Kennel Club in 1878.[8] In 1881, the American Cocker Spaniel Club was formed; it would later become the American Spaniel Club (ASC) and is now known as the oldest breed club for dogs in the United States.[6][8] The task of the club was initially to create a standard to separate the Cocker Spaniel in America from other types of land spaniels, a task which would take over 20 years, only being completed in 1905.[6]

text: The dog considered to be the father of the American Cocker Spaniel was sired by the dog considered to be the father of the English Cocker Spaniel. Ch. Obo was bred to Ch. Chloe II, who was shipped to America while she was pregnant. Once in the United States, she whelped a dog who became Ch. Obo II. He differed greatly from the modern breed, being only 10 inches (25 cm) tall and with a long body, but was considered to be an excellent dog of that era and became a popular sire.[8]

text: Towards the end of the 19th century, the breed had become popular in America and Canada due to their dual use as a family pet and a working dog.[8] In the early 20th century the breeders on either side of the Atlantic had created different breed standards for the Cocker Spaniel and the breed gradually diverged from one another,[6][9] with the two becoming noticeably different by the 1920s. The American Cockers by now had a smaller muzzle, their coats were softer and the dogs overall were lighter and smaller. The differences were so apparent that in 1935, breeders founded the English Cocker Spaniel Club and restricted breeding between the two types of spaniel. The two types of Cocker Spaniel in America were shown together as one breed, with the English type as a variety of the main breed, until 1946 when the American Kennel Club recognised the English Cocker Spaniel as a separate breed.[9][10]

text: Return to the UK[edit]

text: Initially in the United Kingdom there were a few American Cockers that had accompanied service personnel to American bases in the 1950s and 1960s. In addition, several came over with embassy staff and business people returning home.[11]

text: The first UK Kennel Club registered American Cocker Spaniel was Aramingo Argonaught, born 17 January 1956 and bred by Herbert L. Steinberg. Two judges confirmed that the dog was an American Cocker and not an English Cocker before the Kennel Club permitted the dog to be shown. In the 1960s they were shown as a rare breed, which meant that they did not have a show class of their own and could only be shown in variety classes. This included Aramingo Argonaught, who was the first American Cocker Spaniel to be shown at Crufts in 1960 in a class entitled "Any variety not classified at this show".[12] In 1968, the KC agreed to have the breed shown in the category "Any variety gundog other than Cocker" and stated that the American Cocker was not a variety of "Spaniel (Cocker)". There were around 100 registrations between 1966 and 1968.[11]

text: In 1970 the breed was given a separate register in the Kennel Club Breed Supplement, as it was previously included in "Any other variety". Registration numbers increased to 309 by 1970 following this full recognition.[11]

text: Notable American Cockers and popularity[edit]

text: American Cocker Spaniels have won best in show at the Westminster Dog Show on four occasions, with the first win in 1921 by Ch. Midkiff Seductive. Ch. My Own Brucie won the title twice in 1940 and 1941,[13] and became known as the most photographed dog in the world.[14]

text: Brucie's win in 1940 coincided with the American Cocker Spaniel becoming the most popular breed of dog in the United States, and they would remain the most popular until 1952.[15] The most recent victory was in 1954 with the victory going to Ch. Carmor's Rise and Shine.[13] The popularity of the American Cocker increased once again in the 1980s with it becoming the most popular breed again from 1984 until 1990. In more recent years the popularity of the breed has decreased, with it ranked 15th most popular by the American Kennel Club in 2005.[16]

text: American Cocker Spaniels have had several links to the United States Presidency. In 1952, an American Cocker Spaniel became a household name when United States Senator Richard Nixon made his Checkers speech on 23 September. A parti-colored American Cocker Spaniel named Dot was one of several dogs owned by Rutherford B. Hayes; and a buff colored dog named Feller caused a scandal for Harry S. Truman when the dog was received as an unwanted gift with the President subsequently giving it away to a White House physician. More recently, a Cocker named Zeke lived with Bill Clinton while he was Arkansas Governor.[15]

text: Appearance[edit]

text: The American Cocker Spaniel is the smallest dog recognised by the American Kennel Club as a sporting dog,[17] being on average between 13.5 and 15.5 inches (34 and 39 cm) high at the withers.[18] It is a dog of normal proportions, with medium long silky fur on the body and ears, hanging down on the legs and belly (known as feathering). The head has an upturned nose and the ears hang down.[19] The breed standard states that size over 15.5 inches (39 cm) inches for males and 14.5 inches (37 cm) for females is a disqualification at conformation shows.[20] American Cocker Spaniels weigh around 24 to 30 pounds (11 to 14 kg) on average, with females of the breed usually weighing slightly less than the males.[17]

text: The head of an American Cocker Spaniel makes the breed immediately recognizable, with the rounded dome of the skull, well-pronounced stop, and a square shaped lip. The drop ears are long, low set, with long silky fur, and the eyes are dark, large, and rounded. The nose can be black or brown depending on the colour of the breed.[19]

text: The coat of the breed come in a variety of shades with the colours being separated into three main groups: black/black and tan, any solid colour other than black (ASCOB), and parti-colour. The black variety is either all black, or with tan points on the dog's head, the feet and the tail in a pattern called black and tan. The group known as ASCOB includes all other solid colours from light cream through to dark red, although some lighter colouring is allowed on the feathering according to standards. Parti-coloured dogs are white with patches of another colour such as black or brown, and includes any roan coloured dogs.[21] In addition, American Cockers coats can come in a pattern known as merle, which is not recognised by the American Kennel Club.[22]

text: American Cockers have rounder eyes, a domed skull, shorter muzzle and more clearly pronounced eyebrows than the English Cockers,[23] whose head is more setter-like. In colours, the roan colours are rarer in the American variety than in the English but the shade of buff which is common in the American is not seen in the English breed at all, although there are English Cocker Spaniels which are considered to be a shade of red.[24] The English breed is also slightly larger, being between 14.5–15.5 inches (37–39 cm) in height.[23]

text:
American Cocker Spaniel

American Cocker Spaniel puppy with brown coat.

A buff-colored American Cocker Spaniel.

American Cocker Spaniel (adult) with golden coat.

text: Temperament[edit]

text: Known as the "Merry Cocker",[25] the American Cocker Spaniel breed standard defines the ideal dog of the breed as being "equable in temperament with no suggestion of timidity."[26] The breed ranks 20th in Stanley Coren's The Intelligence of Dogs, a rating that indicates good "Working or Obedience Intelligence", or trainability.[27] IQ tests run on a variety of breeds in the 1950s and 1960s showed that the American Cocker performed the best when tested on its ability to show restraint and delayed response to a trigger, a trait which was put down to the breed's bred-in ability when hunting to freeze upon finding a bird before flushing it out on command. However, they proved to be the worst breed tested when it came to manipulating objects with their paws, for instance uncovering a dish of food or pulling on a string.[28]

text: With a good level of socialisation at an early age, an American Cocker can get along with people, children, other dogs and other pets.[25] This breed seems to have a perpetually wagging tail and prefers to be around people; it is not best suited to the backyard alone. Cockers can be easily stressed by loud noises and by rough treatment or handling.[29]

text: Members of the breed were originally used as hunting dogs, but increased in popularity as a show dog. It was bred more and more in conformation with the breed standard, resulting in certain attributes, such as a long coat, which no longer make it an ideal working dog.[25]

text: Health[edit]

text: American Cocker Spaniels in UK and USA/Canada surveys had a median lifespan of about 10 to 11 years,[30] which is on the low end of the typical range for purebred dogs, and one to two years less than other breeds of their size.[31] The larger English Cocker Spaniel typically lives about a year longer than the American Cocker Spaniel.[30] In a 2004 UK Kennel Club survey, the most common causes of death were cancer (23%), old age (20%), cardiac (8%), and immune-mediated (8%).[32] In a 2003 USA/Canada Health Survey with a smaller sample size, the leading causes of death were cancer, hepatic disease, and immune-mediated.[33]

text: American Cockers previously high popularity resulted in the breed frequently being bred by backyard breeders or in puppy mills. This indiscriminate breeding has increased the proliferation of breed related health issues in certain bloodlines.[16]

text: American Cocker Spaniels are susceptible to a variety of illnesses, particularly infections affecting their ears and, in some cases, their eyes. Although the number or percent of afflicted dogs is not known, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), glaucoma, and cataracts have been identified in some members of the breed.[34] The American Spaniel Club recommends annual eye exams by a veterinary ophthalmologist for all dogs that are to be used for breeding. Autoimmune problems in Cockers have also been identified in an unknown number or percent of the breed, including autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). Ear inflammations are common in drop-eared breeds of dog, including the American Cocker, and luxating patellas and hip dysplasia have been identified in some members of the breed.[35]

text: Heart conditions such as dilated cardiomyopathy, where the heart becomes weakened and enlarged, and sick sinus syndrome, which is a type of abnormal heart beating which causes low blood pressure, have been identified in the breed. Phosphofructokinase deficiency is a condition caused by a recessive gene in the breed which prevents the metabolism of glucose into energy, causing the dog to have extremely low energy and be unable to exercise. The gene which causes this appears in around 10 percent of the population, but DNA testing can prevent two carrier dogs from breeding and thus creating puppies with this condition.[36]

text: American Cockers are also prone to canine epilepsy and the related condition known as Rage Syndrome.[37] The latter is a form of epilepsy which can cause a normally placid dog to engage in sudden and unprovoked violent attacks.[37][38] Initial research shows that both conditions appear to be inheritable.[39]

text: In popular culture[edit]

text: The film Lady and the Tramp features Lady who is an American Cocker Spaniel.