One of this winter’s coldest blasts to date—easily the coldest of 2006—threatens to produce sub-zero lows over much of the metro area Friday night after a day of blustery winds and single digit wind chills.
Thursday’s Wisconsin blizzard, which buried the area from Madison (9.6”) to Green Bay (13.4”), has opened the cold air spigot by covering the ground with snow, which reflects 90% of sunlight back to space before it can produce warming. No snowstorm since 1997 near Green Bay has been heavier. And 40 m.p.h. gusts produced near blizzard conditions.
Thursday’s overcast here was so dense, the day took on a dark, almost dusk-like appearance. Thunderstorms brought the heaviest rains in 6 months including 1.19” at O’Hare, 1.18” at Arlington Heights, and 0.87” at Midway. Funnels prompted tornado warnings in some southern suburbs.
-Tom Skilling
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
