By Meteorologist Paul Merzlock
Thunderstorms brought heavy downpours to portions of the Chicago area on Sunday. Rainfall amounts generally ranged between a quarter and a half inch. Totals exceeding one inch were confined to a narrow corridor across portions of McHenry and Lake counties. Areas well south of Interstate 80 bore the brunt of Sunday's storms. Rainfall totals in excess of 3 inches flooded roadways from southern LaSalle county Illinois into Benton county in west central Indiana. This area was pelted with hail as large as baseballs. Two tornado reports were also received as of early Sunday evening. Late Sunday evening, more storms were brewing west of Chicago, causing an ongoing threat of heavy rainfall. Rain is forecast to continue across the region much of Monday. Unsettled conditions with a chance of showers can be expected through midweek, before sunny and pleasant weather returns for Thursday and Friday.
By Meteorologist Paul Merzlock
Thunderstorm clusters continue to pummel areas well west of Chicago with hail and flooding rains. Golf ball sized hail occurred Saturday afternoon and evening in swaths across eastern South Dakota and adjacent portions of Iowa and Minnesota. Similar thunderstorm development is expected across those areas on Sunday. Storms are forecast to reach the Chicago area Sunday evening and continue into Monday. Some of the storms may be severe Sunday evening.
An approaching low pressure area will allow moisture-rich air to converge over the region. As a result, computer forecast rainfall amounts suggest that localized 2-inch downpours are possible across northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana by Monday afternoon. Winds are then expected to switch to the north and northeast allowing cooler, more stable air to spread across the Chicago area. By Monday evening the threat of heavy rainfall is forecast to diminish. Cooler, drier conditions are then expected to persist through mid week.
By Meteorologist Paul Merzlock
Temperatures this spring have been far from normal. March brought summer-like conditions while April is forecast to close cold and damp.
Chicago is not alone in experiencing unusual weather. Typically, when the Great Lakes region and the eastern U.S. turn cold, the western part of the country warms up. On Monday, record high temperatures were observed from Colorado through Montana. Readings in southern Canada were warmer than Miami. Meanwhile, heavy snow fell across western Pennsylvania and New York.
In Chicago, after four consecutive days below normal, temperatures are expected to briefly rise to levels at or above normal Tuesday and Wednesday. Cold northeast winds will lock in again by Thursday. This will put area temperatures into a tailspin.
By Meteorologist Paul Merzlock
Despite tallying a third consecutive day of below normal temperatures, Chicago's weather this weekend has been relatively pleasant. On Saturday, an energetic weather disturbance brought snow, thunderstorms and several tornadoes to Minnesota and Iowa. Snow totals late Saturday included 5.8 inches at Chisholm, Minn., and 3.5 inches at Hibbing. Meanwhile, thunderstorms swept across western Minnesota and Iowa. Tornadoes were reported at Walnut Grove, Minn. and near Spencer, Iowa. To the east, winter storm watches were posted from West Virginia through western New York where 4 to 8 inches of heavy, wet snow is forecast to accumulate Sunday. Much of the Chicago area is in need of rain, however. Based on latest information from the U.S. Drought Monitor, areas just south of Chicago are classified as being in a region of incipient drought, with portions of west-central Illinois already experiencing moderate drought conditions.
By Meteorologist Paul Merzlock
Much of the Chicago area enjoyed May-level temperatures Sunday afternoon. Highs ranged from 61 degrees on the lakefront to 76 degrees at Joliet. The official high at O'Hare International Airport reached 71 degrees just before 2 PM. As winds turned northeast off lake Michigan during the afternoon, temperatures were quickly sent tumbling into the 50s. Even colder air is poised to arrive for Monday. Morning readings in the upper 30s and lower 40s will struggle to reach the middle and upper 40s. The last freezing temperature observed in Chicago was a 27 degree reading observed on March 10. Despite the influx of colder air, no freezing temperatures are forecast for the area this week. Cloudiness Monday night is expected to prevent a freeze. Above normal temps are slated to return Tuesday, and persist through midweek.
By Meteorologist Paul Merzlock
Chicago's incredibly mild March remains on track to become the warmest start to meteorological spring ever. Passing weather systems will briefly bring seasonable temperatures to the area during the coming week, but the next 7 days are still forecast to average well above normal. Strengthening northeast winds Sunday night and Monday will bring Chicago a rare sub-normal day, with partial cloud cover helping to hold temps in the 40s through the day Monday. Winds are then forecast to swing back to the south by Tuesday, sweeping May-level warmth into Chicago. Building high pressure over Canada on Thursday will again shift winds to the northeast resulting in a quick chill before temps moderate heading into the weekend. Periodic showers and thunderstorms will be a byproduct of this series of wind shifts and temperature swings. Rain is expected Tuesday into Tuesday night, and again Friday into Saturday.
By Meteorologist Paul Merzlock
Chicago's official high temperature on Saturday reached 60 degrees, a temperature more typical of mid April. This is just the beginning of a mild period that is expected to last 10 days or more based on medium range computer guidance. The weather pattern during this period even suggests the likelihood of several 70-degree days. Along with these mild temperatures will come periodic surges of moisture laden air. This combination will increase the threat of thunderstorms.
Satellite imagery late Saturday evening indicated a storm system over New Mexico, resulting in thunderstorm development across Texas and Oklahoma. This system will spread showers and a few thunderstorms into Chicago Sunday night and early Monday. Thunderstorms are possible again Wednesday night and Saturday as other weather systems pass well north of Chicago.
By Meteorologist Paul Merzlock
Chicagoans were treated to a tranquil weekend with sunny skies and above-normal temperatures. Meanwhile, a storm system passing south of the area brought heavy snow to parts of the Appalachians and mid-Atlantic. The pattern will continue as afternoon readings in Chicago run 10 degrees above normal. But a series of three weather systems are lined up from the Plains to the North Pacific. These systems are expected to impact the Midwest. The first two disturbances, due to affect Chicago Tuesday and Thursday are forecast to be minor weather producers, bringing a mixture of light rain and wet snow. The Thursday system will bring significantly colder air to the area by Friday. Another system that may reach Chicago as early as Sunday could be a major storm, with the potential for heavy precipitation.
By Meteorologist Paul Merzlock
While a storm system moving across the southern U.S. unleashed tornadoes and flooding rains on the Gulf states Saturday, Chicagoans were treated to sunshine and another day with above normal temperatures. The winter of 2011-2012 currently ranks as the 9th warmest on record in Chicago. To date there have been only 13 days when the temperature failed to reach freezing. There has not been a single sub zero temperature recorded. February has continued this trend with only one sub-freezing day thus far. Temperatures through Wednesday are forecast to average about 5 degrees above normal. Thereafter, current medium range forecasts suggest the Great Lakes region will be evolving into a colder pattern. Below normal temperatures are forecast by Friday. Along with these colder temperatures will come the risk of wintry precipitation. Though no major storms systems are expected to impact Chicago this week, minor accumulations are possible Thursday night or Friday.
By Meteorologist Paul Merzlock
Snow cover across the Midwest will disappear quickly on Monday as temperatures soar to near 50. A warm front will sweep across the Chicago area around noon, shifting winds to the southwest and ushering unseasonanbly mild air from the Plains into the area. Temperatures Sunday afternoon reached the upper 50s and lower 60s from South Dakota to Kansas. Even milder air is expected on Tuesday despite an increase in cloud cover. Temperatures on Tuesday are forecast to reach 50 degree, early April levels. On the same date a year ago, Chicagoans were preparing for a much different scenario as one of the most intense blizzards ever to strike the city took shape. Temperatures will peak on Tuesday before winds turn northwest, bringing the onset of a cooling trend that will continue into the upcoming weekend. By Saturday, readings are expected to be more seasonable with highs around freezing. Snow prospects will remain meager. Minor accumulations are possible Friday night or Saturday.
