Summerlike mid 80s reach south suburbs

So dramatic was the north to south temp spread across the Chicago area Friday that it was as if two seasons were in progress simultaneously. Summerlike 80s reached north to Lansing (82°), Gary (84°) and Valparaiso, Ind. (85°). But, it was a different story farther north—chilly, damp and raw. At midday, readings varied 38°! In Kankakee, SW winds gusted past 30 m.p.h. and tropical air was in firm control, the temp had soared to 86°. While Waukegan reported light SE winds with drizzle in progress and a temp of just 48°. It was at that time, t-storms exploded to life over Grundy and Kendall counties and raced east across Will and Cook counties. The towering 46,000 ft. tall clouds turned skies black and pelted areas with marble-size hail. It took only 15 minutes for the rain to total 0.42” at Midway Airport and suburban Maywood reported a barrage of 1” hailstones.
Other clusters which flared to the east, swamped Warsaw, Ind. with 2.45” of rain in an hour.
-Tom Skilling