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Understanding the Weather

Admin — Mon, 25 May 2009 21:47:02 +0000

Chicago’s wettest Mays

1871-2008 (138 years)

All amounts of 7.00″ or greater

1 7.59″ 1945 Midway Airport

2 7.32″ 1883 downtown Chicago

3 7.22″ 2004 O’Hare Airport

4 7.20″ 1873 downtown Chicago

5 7.09″ 1935 Univ. of Chicago

6 7.08″ 1943 Midway Airport

7 7.04″ 1915 downtown Chicago

Understanding the Weather: May 25, 2009

Admin — Mon, 25 May 2009 21:25:16 +0000

Chicago’s wettest Mays

1871-2008 (138 years)

All amounts of 7.00″ or greater

1 7.59″ 1945 Midway Airport

2 7.32″ 1883 downtown Chicago

3 7.22″ 2004 O’Hare Airport

4 7.20″ 1873 downtown Chicago

5 7.09″ 1935 Univ. of Chicago

6 7.08″ 1943 Midway Airport

7 7.04″ 1915 downtown Chicago

Chicago Weather Records

Admin — Mon, 25 May 2009 07:31:04 +0000

Chicago precipitation records … Wettest Mays

1871-2008 data

May 1-31

1 7.59″ 1945 Midway Airport

2 7.32″ 1883 downtown Chicago

3 7.22″ 2004 O’Hare Airport

4 7.20″ 1873 downtown CHicago

5 7.09″ 1935 Univ. of Chicago

6 7.08″ 1943 Midway Airport

7 7.04″ 1915 downtown Chicago

8 6.95″ 1996 O’Hare Airport

2nd storm outbreak in 3 days to hit region

Admin — Fri, 15 May 2009 03:57:55 +0000

The second round of downpour-generating thunderstorms in less than three

days threatens flooding and another outbreak of severe weather Friday

afternoon. Soils are saturated and the 1 to 2 inches or more of rain

expected to fall in sometimes-thundery deluges over the coming 24 hours

has nowhere to go but to run off. Flash flood guidance suggests sections

of Chicago’s southern suburbs require less than an inch of rainfall to

initiate flooding.

A northbound warm front will be overrun by…

Thundery downpours threaten to initiate flooding; warming next week

Admin — Fri, 15 May 2009 03:57:04 +0000

Today’s Ask Tom Why

Admin — Fri, 15 May 2009 03:32:25 +0000

Dear Tom,

In the “WGN Weather Center Blog” there is a statement that 14 percent of lightning

strikes near Chicago on May 13 were “very dangerous positive strikes.” What does that

mean?

Nancy Gilbert, Fairview, NC

Dear Nancy,

The establishment of a nationwide lightning detection network in the early 1990s

enabled researchers to count lightning bolts accurately, and the numbers are stunning:

The United States takes an average of 22 million lightning ground strikes per year. Of…

Flooding in the wake of Wednesday night’s deluge at the Wilson Skate Park in Chicago’s

Admin — Thu, 14 May 2009 22:58:49 +0000

Dan Hein shares this photo of the Wilson Skate Park in Uptown. He reports he had to

wade out to clear the drains in order to facilitate draining. Great shot, Dan! THANKS for

sharing it with us!

Tom Skilling

Photo courtesy of: Dan Hein, Lincoln Park, Chicago

The deadly Wednesday Kirksville, Missouri tornado from storm chaser/photographer David Mayhew

Admin — Thu, 14 May 2009 22:52:53 +0000

Northern Missouri’s Kirksville was dealt a devastating blow when this deadly and incredibly destructive tornado roared through the city late Wednesday. At least one fatality occurred as this twister leveled homes and businesses there. Our friend and frequent contributor to this blog—photographer David Mayhew, who’s work is always remarkable—-shares these photos of the ominous storm which he took of the storm as it neared Kirkville. David took the first snapshot of this photographic…

Wednesday night’s squall-line spawned lightning in the Rochelle, Illinois area

Admin — Thu, 14 May 2009 22:49:30 +0000

Mike Frankowski’s photography is always something to behold—and this shot is no

exception! Mike captured lightning accompanying last night’s storms in the Rochelle,

Illinois area. Great shot, Mike—thanks for sharing it with us!

Tom Skilling

Photo courtesy of Mike Frankowski, South Elgin

After storms, it’s sun and lower humidities

Admin — Thu, 14 May 2009 05:15:56 +0000

Thunderstorms towering more than 10 miles above Illinois raced across

the state at 50 m.p.h. Wednesday afternoon and evening, unleashing

downpours and producing powerful winds and lightning across an 800-mile

swath of terrain from Wisconsin to the Oklahoma Panhandle. Lightning

data indicated nearly 2,000 cloud-to-ground strokes were occurring

within a 200-mile radius of Chicago late Wednesday-a total exceeding

16,000 strikes was tallied in just six hours’ time. The torrential

downpours…