March 2008 Archives

--By Steve Kahn, WGN Weather Center Meteorologist

--Tom Skilling, Chief Meteorologist, WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune

Chris and his wife Kim share these 5:10 p.m. Thursday photos of hail which fell in far south suburban Bradley near Kankakee. Chris reports the temperature there was around 40 degrees and asks if the presence of hail doesn't indicate an increased threat for tornadoes. That’s a great question.

It is true that thunderstorms strong enough to produce twisters almost always produce large hail -- and in a number of cases, very large hail. The converse, however, isn't always true -- that hail-bearing thunderstorms necessarily produce tornadoes. Thanks Chris for sharing these photos with us!
--Tom Skilling, Chief Meteorologist, WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune

Photos courtesy of Chris Veldhuizen, Bradley, Ill.

Our thanks to Paul Dunne of Duneland, Ind., for sending us this photo of Lake Michigan ice there on Thursday (March 27). Duneland Beach is near the Michigan border. Paul reports this is the latest he’s seen such a lake ice formation in the 43 years he’s lived there!
--Tom Skilling, Chief Meteorologist, WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune

Photos courtesy of Paul Dunne, Duneland Beach, Ind.

Thanks to Anson Mount for this shot of Thursday afternoon's snow at Algonquin. Snowfall there has reached 1.5", Anson tells us. Thunder and lightning has accompanied the snow during the late afternoon and evening at Downers Grove and Oak Brook. Lightning data indicates the most prolific cloud to ground—236 strokes in the 10 minute period ending around 6:50 p.m. Thursday evening has occurred in the far southern suburbs. There are indications bursts of heavier snowfall is accompanying the east/northeast-bound thunderstorms there. Visibilities this afternoon and evening have dropped under one-quarter mile at times in the heaviest spells of snowfall. Full weather details on Thursday evening's Nine O'Clock News.

Tom Skilling
Chief Meteorologist, WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune

Photo courtesy: Anson Mount

This season, which has produced the most frequent measurable snowfall across the Chicago area in 27 years, is to become even snowier. An accumulating late season snow is on the way again Thursday! A vigorous eastbound disturbance, responsible for occasionally heavy snowfall which has trimmed visibilities to a half mile or less at times as it's moved across Iowa overnight, brings sleet and snow to Chicago, which is to switch to occasionally heavy wet snow here by and during the afternoon and evening. The lift this system is to generate is consistent with that known to produce embedded thundersnow -- so thunder and lightning with the snowfall isn't out of the question in portions of the Chicago metro area. The heaviest snowfall is to occur primarily north of I-80. General 2-4” totals are expected — with locally heavier totals not out of the question in the counties adjoining and north of the Illinois/Wisconsin state line. A measurable (0.1" or more) snow would make the 2007-08 snow season the most frequently snowy since the record snow season of 1978-79. Measurable snow has fallen 43 times this season, nearly twice last season's 22 measureable snow occurrences and well ahead of the long term average of 26 measurable snows by March 27. Complete coverage on our WGN Midday News at Noon Thursday, at 5:55 p.m. and on Thursday’s Nine O’Clock News.

Accumulating snow is on the way again! A thick overcast produces sleet and snow possibly mixed with rain at the start. The wet snow, blustery and colder. Snow may become rather heavy at times this afternoon and evening -- thundersnow possible some areas. Snowfall by nightfall may reach 2-4". Temperatures fall slowly through the low and mid 30s.

This set of photos, displaying views of Chicago’s Gold Coast area near State and Bellevue both before and during Friday’s snowstorm, come to us from Nick Liveris. Nick’s been so good about sharing his always wonderful weather shots in the past and we thank him for these photos as well. Last week’s system was the last thing many winter-weary Chicagoans needed. Thanks Nick!

Tom Skilling

BEFORE
AFTER

BEFORE
AFTER

Photos courtesy of Nick Liveris, Chicago

--By Steve Kahn, WGN Weather Center Meteorologist

Thanks to Gisela Wielki for sharing this picture of an Easter snow egg as the city experiences its first "white Easter" in 30 years. Not since Easter Sunday March 26, 1978, when 2 inches of snow covered the ground, has Chicago had a snow covered spring holiday.
--By Steve Kahn, WGN Weather Center Meteorologist

Photo courtesy of Gisela Wielki

--Tom Skilling, Chief Meteorologist, WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune

Thomas Nava, NWS Storm Spotter and Chicago Area Snow Team observer, shares these photos of Friday's snowstorm from the city's northwest side. He reports 6.1 inches was down by late Friday. THANKS Thomas!

--Tom Skilling, Chief Meteorologist, WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune

Photos courtesy of Thomas Nava, Chicago's Northwest Side

This set of photos of Navy Pier on Chicago's lakefront and sent to us by Creighton D. Fiscina illustrates the stunning weather shift between Thursday -- with its springlike temperatures and bright sun -- and Friday with its accumulating snow, 30-degree temperatures and near-40 m.p.h. wind gusts! Thanks Creighton -- how beautifully you've underscored the weather contrast!

--Tom Skilling, Chief Meteorologist, WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune

Photos courtesy of Creighton D. Fiscina, Navy Pier area of downtown Chicago’s lakefront

Nearly 4.5 inches of new covers the North Park section of Arlington Heights, reports Curt Renz, who relays this shot take late Friday evening there. Some additional snow is predicted overnight, so that may not be the area's final figure. Curt, an avid astronomy fan, complains that Friday's storm spoiled his Full Moon party! Our apologies, Curt -- and many thanks for the beautiful shot!
--Tom Skilling, Chief Meteorologist, WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune

Photo courtesy of Curt Renz, Arlington Heights, Illinois

Andy Casper of Belvidere displays quite a sense of humor about Friday's snow by building this 10-12 foot high Easter Bunny! The photo was relayed to me by friend and colleague Eric Sorensen, Chief Meteorologist at WREX-TV in Rockford. Thanks to both Andy and Eric for sharing the Easter Bunny photo with us!
--Tom Skilling, Chief Meteorologist, WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune

Photo courtesy of Andy Casper, Belvidere, Illinois

Our thanks to John Gehr who forwards us these photos from the Holland, Mich., area. It, like the area north of Chicago and north into Wisconsin, is bearing the brunt of this area's largest late-season storm in at least 16 years.
--Tom Skilling, Chief Meteorologist, WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune

--By Paul Dailey, WGN Weather Center Meteorologist

--Tom Skilling, Chief Meteorologist, WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune

A new layer of wet snow has blanketed northern Wisconsin in the past day, clinging to trees and other outdoor surfaces as you can see in these photos from our friend Dan Hanson. He snapped these photos Thursday morning outside his home in Winter, Wisconsin. Thanks for sharing them with us, Dan!


Tom Sklling

Photos courtesy of Dan Hanson, Winter, Wisconsin

Ice lingers along Lake Michigan despite the arrival of milder temperatures in recent days. Jim Bayne shares this ice photograph with us from Oak Street Beach. Great shot--thanks Jim!

Tom Skilling

Photo courtesy of Jim Bayne, Chicago

--By Paul Dailey, WGN Weather Center Meteorologist

--Tom Skilling, Chief Meteorologist, WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune

Cowan’s been involved in the “Storms of 2007” DVD—the proceeds of which go to the rebuilding efforts in tornado-devastated Greensburg, Kansas

Chad Cowan, a life-long weather enthusiast who lives here in Chicago, has storm-chased for years all across this country's Heartland. He and storm-chasing colleagues were in the field the night the devastating Greensburg, Kansas twister hit last May, all but wiping the community off the face of the earth.

Chad joins us at our Fermilab/WGN-TV Tornado and Severe Weather Seminars with some of the video of that horrific storm---video which is included in a DVD fellow storm-chasers have put together in an effort to aid relief efforts by the Red Cross and the town of Greensburg. Chad’s been actively promoting the sale of a series of storm DVDs which have raised more than $36,000 for tornado rebuilding and relief efforts since 2004. We're looking forward to Chad's appearance!

He offers this link to a YouTube sample of the 'Storms of 2007" video, which he had helped put together and market: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wdymawKR0o

Here’s the web site at which “The Storms of 2007” can be purchased. All funds raised from this DVD’s sales are dispatched to the Red Cross and to the city of Greensburg and directed toward the rebuilding process.

thestormsof2007.org

--Tom Skilling, Chief Meteorologist, WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune

Bret Renaud shares this great photos of our wintry, ice-packed Chicago shoreline looking south from the north side Rogers Park neighborhood. Beautiful shot! Many thanks Bret!

Tom Skilling

Photo courtesy: Bret Renaud

Keith Wrzala of Hampshire for shares this beautiful shot of Monday evening’s sunset with us! Thanks Keith!

Tom Skilling

Photo courtesy: Keith Wrzala

This had to be cold! Rockford area photographer Susan Moran shares these photos of brave area residents involved in the “Polar Plunge”---an event held at Rock Cut State Park and carried out to raise money for Special Olympics. Though Sunday’s high in Rockford topped out at 51-degrees----Saturday featured temperature extremes of 35-degrees and 17-degrees. Congratulations to all who participated and braved the cold for a good cause. And many thanks to photographer Susan Moran for the great photos!

Tom Skilling

Photo courtesy: Susan Moran

--By Steve Kahn, WGN Weather Center Meteorologist

--Tom Skilling, WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist

Chicago Midway Airport Summary for February, 2008
Period of record: 1929-2008

Data provided courtesy of Chicago weather historian Frank Wachowski

Total snowfall 22.8", or 221 percent of normal (10.3")
Third-snowiest February on record

Most snowfall in February
1 1994 26.2"
2 1980 23.7"
3 2008 22.8"

Total precipitation (water content) 3.71"
Second-wettest February on record

Most precipitation in February
1 1997 6.76"
2 2008 3.71"

Sunshine in February was 40 percent of possible versus normal of 46 percent