Chicago was hit Tuesday by the heaviest rains to douse the area since January as temperatures tumbled. O’Hare’s 0.63” was the largest total at the site since 0.89” fell on January 12. Only four April 12 rains since official measurements began here in 1871 have been heavier. The area around Midway Airport recorded 0.61”. But, hardest hit of all were Chicago’s west and southern suburbs. 1.58” of rain was measured at the National Weather Service office in Romeoville and more than an inch rain fell downstate at Champaign (1.10”), Springfield (1.01”) and Galesburg (1.17”).
The powerful storm behind Tuesday’s temperature plunge prompted afternoon severe t-storm watches across central and southern Illinois. Small tornadoes are reported to have touched down in Montgomery and Franklin counties in southern Illinois, between Mt. Vernon and Carbondale. Hail accompanied other storms there.
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
