Chicago Weather Center Blog - Chicago Weather Center Blog

It’s the wettest spring here in 30 years and ranks 2nd-wettest since 1871

Posted on: May 23rd, 2013 1:57 AM by Tom Skilling

It's official! This spring's rainfall is now truly one for the books.

With just over a week left in the meteorological spring season, which runs from March 1 through May, the 14.29" which has fallen to-date, makes this Chicago's 2nd- wettest on record the past 142 years.

Wednesday downpours, some thundery, contribute to a number of 1.50"+ totals

Wednesday's selective downpours totaled 2.15" at Wilmette, 1.80" at Northfield, 1.73" Niles, 1.62" Glencoe and 1.33" at O'Hare. The latest round of t-storms has pushed May 2013's monthly tally to 3.61", while the spring total is 168% normal.

“Full-fetch” north/northeast winds shave temps by nearly 20-degrees Thursday; 9-day above normal streak ends as April-level chill takes over

Chicago temps take a big "hit" Thursday as brisk north/northeast winds travel into the city after a near-280 mile trip over Lake Michigan's chilly waters.

The set-up is predicted to slash readings by up to 20-degrees---compared to Wednesday's temps--- and will take readings down to the 50s (and even some upper 40s along Lake Michigan), level which equal the normal temps found in April.

The chill is to end the longest string of consecutive above normal days---9 of them--- in the 4.5 months since January.

Chill’s arrival shaves 20-degrees off daytime temps; ends city’s longest string of above normal temps in 4.5 months

Posted on: May 23rd, 2013 12:11 AM by Tom Skilling

ASK TOM: “Tornado Alley”

Posted on: May 22nd, 2013 11:09 PM by CWC Staff

Dear Tom,
I hear the term “tornado alley” being used frequently. What area is being referred to? Does the Chicago area have a tornado alley?

--Jacob Tonns
Dear Jacob,
“Tornado alley” is an often used but inconsistently applied term and, as the American Meteorological Society notes, “Since (tornado) statistics are variable on all-time scales, the term has little scientific value.”
This is especially true when the body of tornado data is restricted to a relatively small geographical area such as metropolitan Chicago. Conclusions drawn from such a limited database are meaningless.
Broadly speaking, U.S. tornadoes occur most frequently in the area from north-central Texas through Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska into central South Dakota. This area is loosely defined as tornado alley.

Clouds over Chicago

Posted on: May 22nd, 2013 6:50 PM by CWC Staff

Tuesday evening cottony cumulus clouds are framed against the Willis Tower in this shot Michael Lyons.

Photo courtesy Michael Lyons, Downtown Chicago

Forked lightning over downtown Chicago

Posted on: May 22nd, 2013 5:16 PM by CWC Staff

Look at this remarkable array of forked lightning over downtown Tuesday evening from Adam Oles, Chicago.

Photo courtesy of Adam Oles, Chicago

Cumulus over Wauconda

Posted on: May 22nd, 2013 5:38 PM by CWC Staff No Comments

A close-up of last evening's billowy, towering cumulus over Wauconda are the subject of this photo which was taken by Dirk Leahy produces quite a scene, doesn't it? The Alpenglow oranges and reds are quite fanstastic!

Photo courtesy of Dirk Leahy, Wauconda, IL

Rain ending over the Chicago Metro area

Posted on: May 22nd, 2013 1:26 PM by Steve Kahn No Comments

Latest radar trends shortly after 1:30pm indicate that the area of showers and thunderstorms that has brought some heavy rainfall to portions of the Chicago Metro area is lifting out of the area to the north and east. Skies are brightening and there may even be some sunshine this afternoon.

Rain exiting the Chicago area

Some rainfall totals so far for Wednesday

Posted on: May 22nd, 2013 1:28 PM by Steve Kahn No Comments

Here are the latest rainfall totals..

O'Hare Airport 1.56 inches

West Chicago 1.29 inches

Wheeling 1.29 inches

Aurora-Sugar Grove 0.81 inches

Midway Airport 0.65 inches

Reports from WeatherBug sites

Wilmette 1.93 inches

Niles 1.67 inches

Highland Park 1.42 inches

Morton Grove 1.41 inches

Palatine 1.05 inches

Wheaton 1.00 inch

Arlington Heights 0.95 inches

Waves of thunderstorms bringing some heavy rainfall- Flood threat for portions of northern Cook and northeast DuPage counties this afternoon

Posted on: May 22nd, 2013 12:23 PM by Steve Kahn No Comments

Showers and thunderstorms have been moving through the Chicago Metro area overnight and this morning and are continuing this afternoon. The National Weather Service has issued an areal flood advisory this afternoon for portions of northern Cook and northeast Du Page counties until 3:30 pm for possible flooding along streams and creeks and in low-lying areas. More than an inch of rain has fallen so far and another half inch to an inch may fall this afternoon.