Chicago’s meteorological landscape Saturday is far different than 24 hours ago. North winds beneath stubbornly cloudy skies are to dramatically limit daytime warming at almost every turn. The resulting 40s are to fall more than 20 degrees short of Friday’s 68° high at O’Hare and 71° at Midway. Gary, Ind.—where 67 m.p.h. gusts were clocked Friday—reached 76°, the warmest temperature anywhere in the metro area to date this year!
Only seldomly has March closed with back-to-back 70° temperatures. Yet that’s what happened at Midway Airport Thursday and Friday, with highs of 70° and 71°. Since 1928, March’s closing two days have produced 70° or higher readings only six times. The month’s warmest close occurred 20 years ago in 1986 when highs of 83° and 85° were logged.
March 2006’s average 38.3° temperature was a modest 1.7 degrees above the long-term average and 3.3 degrees milder than a year ago.
--Tom Skilling, WGN-TV Meteorologist
March 2006 Archives
Update posted at 2 p.m., Friday, March 31
Post-storm winds Friday howl above 50 m.p.h. in Chicago area, prompting wind advisory; new severe weather outbreak threatens Sunday
Chicago was spared severe thunderstorms Thursday night, but hasn't escaped howling winds in the storm's wake Friday. Late morning and early afternoon winds have gusted to 57 m.p.h. just off Chicago's shoreline out over Lake Michigan and have been clocked as high as 54 m.p.h. at Gary, Ind., 51 m.p.h. in Kankakee and 49 m.p.h. at Lewis Airport at Romeoville.
Area observers have witnessed some fascinating meteorological aspects of a classic spring storm system. Such storms exhibit a huge comma-shaped cloud configuration on satellite imagery. The cloud-free "notch" or indentation in the cloud mass responsible for this comma shape is referred to by meteorologists as a "dry wedge" or "dry slot." It's a region of strong subsidence, surging temperatures and high winds--all present in recent hours here. Skies cleared and the sun emerged for three hours as this feature arrived in the Chicago metro area.
The "dry slot" coincides with the jet stream's strongest winds and is the region of the storm within which winds line up vertically--blowing from the same direction through a deep layer of the atmosphere. It's little wonder such strong wind gusts have resulted with all that momentum. This morning's dry slot, only 120 miles in width, has shifted east as of this posting as the large spring storm reponsible for it continues to track northeastward. Rain showers will sweep the area Friday afternoon and night, and winds will remain strong. Look for temperatures to expeditiously fall back into the 50s as cooler air wrapped around the storm's backside swings into Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan.
The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory through 6 p.m. Friday evening. Wind velocities will begin to ease--albeit slowly--during Friday night.
NEW SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK SHAPING UP SUNDAY
We are monitoring what appears likely to be another impressive severe weather outbreak across the nation's mid-section, including the Chicago metro area, Sunday afternoon and night. This will be a focus on our Nine O'Clock News program, here on our weather blog and on the Chicago Tribune's Saturday weather page. The large-scale pattern across North America is to remain an active one beyond the late weekend storm system as well with another important system slated into the Midwest later Thursday and Friday next week.
REMINDER: Our 25th Annual Fermilab/WGN-TV Tornado and Severe Weather Seminar takes place a week from Saturday on April 8. It's completely free of charge and seating is on a first come/first served basis, so we recommend getting there early to get a good seat. We repeat the program twice--the first at noon and the second starting at 6 p.m. We hope to see you at the beautiful Fermilab Ramsey Auditorium in Batavia, Ill., in the main building (the tallest structure on the Fermilab grounds visible in the surrounding area). Click the link on the wgntv.com web site for our speakers list and instructions on how to get to Fermilab. See you there!
Here are the area's peak wind gusts through 1 p.m. Friday:
Harrison-Dever Crib (3 miles off Chicago's lakeshore) 57 m.p.h.
Gary, Ind. 54 m.p.h.
Kankakee 51 m.p.h.
Lewis University Airport 49 m.p.h.
Valparaiso, Ind. 44 m.p.h.
Morris, IL 43 m.p.h.
DuPage Airport 41 m.p.h.
Waukegan 41 m.p.h.
Midway Airport 40 m.p.h.
O'Hare Airport 40 m.p.h.
Lansing 40 m.p.h.
DeKalb 39 m.p.h.
Joliet 39 m.p.h.
Sterling, Ill. 38 m.p.h.
Rockford, Ill. 33 m.p.h.
Twisters and severe thunderstorms tore across 8 states to Chicago’s west Thursday even as city residents basked in the year’s warmest weather.
O’Hare’s 70° high marked only the 12th time March 30 has produced a 70° or higher temperature since 1871. Not since the 70° on Nov. 4 has it been as warm here. The metro area’s highest temperatures included 73° at Gary, 72° at Kankakee and Joliet and 71° at Romeoville—readings nearly 20° above normal and more typical of late May.
The unseasonable warmth fueled waves of violent thunderstorms across the nation’s mid-section Thursday, some 48,000 ft. tall. By 10 p.m., 300 reports of severe weather—which included two dozen twisters—had been tallied by NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center. A still potent eastbound squall line threatened to boost those totals.
-Tom Skilling
Springlike warmth bursts onto the atmospheric stage Thursday promising one of the year’s warmest temperatures. The warm air predicted here this afternoon originated over Arkansas and Texas 24 hours ago where 60s and 70s were common. Its arrival boosts prospects Chicago is in for one of 2006’s mildest readings yet. By evening, a swath of south winds will extend from the Gulf of Mexico north to Chicago—a feature meteorologists refer to as a low level jet stream. Wind gusts are to reach 30 m.p.h. at ground level, sending dewpoints—a measure of atmospheric moisture—soaring into the mid 50s. That’s a level of moisture known to help fuel the development of powerful thunderstorms.
Warm weather has been in short supply here to date. Only six years since 1970 have produced fewer 60s by now. Interestingly, Chicago’s high a year ago was 77°.
Tom Skilling
It’s little wonder Wednesday’s predicted temperature uptick and the stronger, wind-driven warming predicted ahead of a powerful spring storm Thursday are being welcomed here. Mild readings have been in short supply for two weeks. Tuesday marked the 15th consecutive day with temperatures at or below normal.
A Pacific storm, responsible for record rains Tuesday across southern California, is the latest in a series of powerful low pressures to blossom west of Hawaii, drench the Islands then race to the West Coast. March rainfall across our 50th state has been extraordinary. Honolulu, which typically records 1.69” of rain this month, has been swamped by 11.15”. Even more impressive is the 34.12” this month at Lihue (3.14” is normal) and 25.45” at Hilo (where 12.41” is typical). On the U.S. mainland Tuesday, 4.50” fell in the mountains surrounding Los Angeles.
-Tom Skilling
Meteorologists talk about chilly Lake Michigan and the thermal inertia exhibited by its water in explaining why spring is so slow to warm here. Thermal inertia is the term which describes the slow pace at which water changes temperature. After winter’s chill, lake waters are slow to warm. Tuesday’s a perfect example. East winds off the lake and north of a storm downstate are behind the day’s comparative “chill”.
East winds blow here 42% of the time here in March, 41% of the time in April and 54% of the time in May. Even June hosts east winds 38% of the time. Not until lake temperatures warm significantly—usually the first or second week of June, does lake cooling loosen its grip. It’s the primary reason city residents and area forecasters alike refer to the current period as the lake breeze season and grow frustrated at the slow speed at which spring warming occurs.
This week should be the most “springlike” yet for northern Illinois. Temperatures are expected to moderate considerably with frequent periods of showers and thunderstorms. As low pressure drifts east through the Midwest, showers will likely begin this afternoon in Chicago, continue through the night and taper off tomorrow morning. At the same time, a major storm system will hit the West Coast with heavy rains and even significant snow in higher elevations.
This West Coast storm will move east, weaken somewhat as it crosses the Rockies Wednesday and then reintensify over the Central Plains. Counterclockwise winds around the strengthening system will draw warm, moist air up the Mississippi Valley with a wide band of showers and thunderstorms—many severe—from Texas to the western Great Lakes. Severe storms will threaten northeast Illinois later Thursday and Thursday night, and possibly redevelop again Friday.
--Paul Dailey, WGN Weather Center Meteorologist
The cold pattern that has held temperatures in the metro area below 50° for nearly two weeks is expected to persist through Tuesday. A shift to a southwesterly jet stream flow aloft midweek will allow the rapid penetration north of warmer temperatures. However the shift in upper-level winds signals the approach of a strong low pressure system that will first hit the west coast, especially California, hard Tuesday, cross the Rockies Wednesday and approach the western Great Lakes Thursday. Not only warmer but much more moist air will flow into the middle Mississippi and Ohio River Valleys spreading an extensive shield of cloudiness along with showers and t-storms. A large portion of the country from Texas and the Gulf Coast north to and beyond the Ohio River will likely experience severe storms. Clouds and rainfall may hold highest readings here in the 50s. This could be the first March since 2002 Chicago fails to record a 70° high.
The current Great Lakes cold upper low system drifts east but is quickly replaced by another cold upper low Monday and Tuesday. Cloudiness and snow flurries will persist today and diminish overnight. Remnant north winds and periods of sun will prevail Sunday, but clouds return Monday with first rain Monday night, and then a rain/snow mix Tuesday.
A West Coast storm will cross the Rockies and develop into a major central Plains storm Wednesday. Southerly flow will spread cloudiness and rain over northern Illinois with rain beginning Wednesday night and continuing Thursday. Severe thunderstorms will be very active over the southern/central Plains and Mississippi Valley with this system. Thunderstorms will probably be embedded in the rain over the Chicago area with severe storms possible in southern/central Illinois Thursday. After a relatively mild three-day period, another upper-level cold pool is forecast for next weekend.
--Paul Dailey, WGN Weather Center Meteorologist
After a cold, blustery Tuesday where the high only reached 33º, readings surged 16 degrees to 49º Wednesday afternoon under strengthening March sunshine as the city enjoyed its warmest day in more than a week. However, a reversal of fortune will send the mercury tumbling back toward 40º the next few days as an upper-level disturbance settling into the Midwest brings clouds and periods of snow showers to the area. Little improvement is expected until early next week as the upper-level system slowly moves out, allowing surface winds to shift to the south and sending temperatures back into the 50s.
Tuesday’s snowstorm, which left a deep snow cover downstate and across portions of the Plains and southern Midwest, is long gone—but cold air moving southward in its wake will send temperatures plunging to levels near or below freezing across much of the southern U.S. in areas from Texas to the Carolinas this morning and again tonight.
--Steve Kahn, WGN Weather Center Meteorologist
The first full day of spring was anything but—in Chicago as the city shivered through its coldest day since Feb. 20 with a high of only 33º. With a few flurries being blown about by strong northeast winds and windchills that hovered in the teens, the day took on a character more like January than mid March. Only slight improvement is expected the next few days as cold Canadian air continues to flow into the area keeping temperatures well below the seasonable normals which are now approaching 50º.
The cold is expected to relax its grip by the weekend as temperatures climb through the 40s.
In a “down-under” scenario eerily similar to the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, Australia’s Queensland Province still reeling from a direct hit from the 180 m.p.h. winds of Cat. 5 Cyclone Larry is watching the similar track approach of Cyclone Wati. However, latest forecasts have the storm paralleling the coast avoiding a second direct hit.
A late season storm that brought widespread snow totals in excess of 12 inches to the central Plains tracks east across southern Illinois during the day Tuesday. Winter storm warnings stretch across central Illinois and into Indiana and Ohio, and include blizzard warnings for the counties around Springfield. The storm exits the region by late Tuesday, followed quickly by the next onrush of arctic air.
Weather at Chicago remains fairly quiet for the rest of the week, though light snow or flurries are possible Friday. The locked-in chilly pattern finally breaks down over the weekend, replaced by milder but unstable air with a chance of thunderstorms by next Tuesday. Several large-amplitude systems traverse the region in the week that follows, suggesting wild swings in temperatures and weather into early April.
A weak low pressure system gathering strength in the Texas Panhandle is headed eastward. Already, the system is tapping a large pool of moisture overspreading the Gulf Coast states. Three-day rainfall ending Sunday totaled 6 inches in the Dallas area—in some cases more than doubling the year-to-date total in the ongoing drought.
The storm track up the Ohio River lies along the southern edge of the arctic air and keeps system snowfall south of Chicago, with only flurries expected in all but the far southern suburbs. In west-central Illinois, over 12 inches of snow are forecast Monday night into Tuesday.
In the wake of the storm, winds turn north and a new surge of chilly high pressure settles in from Canada. This air mass is colder than previous ones, but late-March sunshine moderates temperatures by next weekend. Thereafter, the chilly pattern finally breaks down, replaced by milder Pacific weather systems.
--Dennis Haller, WGN Weather Center Meteorologist
The vernal (spring) equinox occurs Monday at 12:26 p.m. CST, marking the beginning of astronomical spring in the northern hemisphere. Despite the fanfare, temperatures remain mired at late February or early March levels right on thr ough the next seven days. The ongoing cool spell results from the tightly blocked upper pattern which drives a steady stream of frigid high pressure southward from the Canadian Arctic. Besides the chill, this air is incredibly dry. Dew points around Chicago hovered in the single digits Saturday afternoon, causing very dry indoor relative humidity.
The only change in this pattern of repetitive dry days of chilly north winds occurs Tuesday, when a modest storm system passes well south of Chicago. The associated moisture shield and chance of light snow reaches into the southern suburbs and maybe as far north as the city. Models still hint at a real return to spring weather in about nine days.
Chicago and much of the northeastern quarter of the country are locked into a cool, fairly dry pattern that shows no sign of breaking for more than a week. At a time when 40 percent of the days normally reach 50° or higher, Chicago could only manage 39° on Friday, with similar temperatures expected right through next weekend. On the bright side, most days should feature some sunshine and only moderate north winds.
The next chance of precipitation returns Tuesday—as snow—with blustery north winds. However, the storm track is forced well south by this mountain of high pressure, so Chicago will be on the northern fringe of the storm.
Computer guidance shows a light at the end of the tunnel in about 10 days. This stubborn chilly pattern finally shows signs of retreating north near the end of March. By then, an invigorated surge of the jet stream will bring Pacific fronts and the promise of milder air eastward at regular intervals.
--Dennis Haller, WGN Weather Center meteorologist
Thursday’s snow was disappointing for snow lovers, with 1.5" reported officially at O’Hare, 2.5" in the northern tier of Illinois counties, and only a trace from Midway southward. Chicago was spared the 8" which fell in southeastern Minnesota/southwestern Wisconsin as the system injected very dry air at low levels from the northeast, causing snow to evaporate and sublimate as it fell. In the wake of the modest storm, winds turn north and frigid high pressure with origins near the North Pole settles south for the next several days.
The stubborn upper pattern remains blocked for at least the next week, and probably two, so it will take at least that long to dislodge the steady onslaught of chilly Canadian air. The next chance for precipitation, probably snow, occurs Tuesday when Chicago is grazed by the northern fringes of a low pressure system tracking up the Ohio Valley.
Midday Thursday’s rain-snow mix ends as all snow as winds turn north and cold air pours in from Canada during the evening hours. Final totals in Chicago should range from 6 in. north to 1 in. south, with around 3 in of wet snow in Chicago proper. An average of eight computer models yields 0.54" of total precipitation at Chicago—about 4" using a wet 8:1 snow/water ration.
In the wake of the storm, a monstrous cell of high pressure breaks loose from far north in the Arctic and drifts slowly southward. With the northeastern quarter of the hemisphere locked into an especially cold pattern, this frigid high pressure does not moderate much with time, which holds temperatures only in the 30 most days, 10° or more below normal. Instead, another round of reinforcing cold air from the Arctic arrives behind the next snow system slated to affect Chicago next Tuesday.
The blustery, chilly winds of a March-style cold spell that began Monday will continue right through the seven day period. During this period, the hemispheric upper pattern does undulate considerably—not unusual in late March—but the massive polar vortex remains steadfast over in northeastern Canada, promising a steady diet of frigid arctic high pressure for the eastern half of the U.S.
The next weather-maker in this regime arrives early Thursday, with Chicago right on the rain-snow line. A compilation of current guidance suggests precipitation will begin as snow early Thursday, change to a rain and snow mix in the morning, and end as all snow Thursday afternoon. A slushy inch or two is possible in the city, with more snow north near Wisconsin and mostly rain south. In any event, the next round of chilly air invades the entire region Friday.
Chicago and parts of Illinois suffered through an evening of severe weather Sunday. A long-lived tornado with origins near Kansas City spent over two hours on the ground in Illinois as it raced from Springfield to near Watseka before weakening. An official investigation and a report of the storm are still ongoing. At Moline, a thunderstorm downburst sent winds gusting to a record 107 m.p.h. at 7:48 p.m., shattering the old high wind record of 81 m.p.h. Just south of Midway airport at 12:42 a.m. Monday, another microburst caused several blocks of damage in Bridgeview, where the NWS investigation estimated wind damage of 85 to 100 m.p.h. Thunderstorms and heavy rain followed into the early hours of Monday, with blustery 50 m.p.h. wind gusts around noon.
Up north, the major spring storm dumped up to 23 inches of snow in western Wisconsin, with blizzard conditions in the Upper Peninsula.
Tom Skilling takes a moment to send greetings from his Alaskan vacation and reports that it snowed for two days straight when he first arrived. He's already shoveled three feet of snow, but he's thoroughly enjoying his trip. He says "It's been magnificent!"
The huge spring storm tracking through the southern suburbs generated over 300 storm reports on Sunday, including large hail in Chicago’s south suburbs and a long-lived tornado near Springfield. Along the northern flank of the storm, heavy, wet snow spread from the central Plains through the Upper Michigan, where over a foot is expected on Sunday night and Monday. In the wake of the storm, strong west winds with gusts past 30 m.p.h. sweep into Chicago during the day, dragging frigid arctic air southward.
The cold air takes up residence for the week ahead, with the next weather maker due on Thursday. Current model guidance suggests that upper air support will remain weak and keep this system from developing fully.
As a result, Chicago may see mixed rain and snow early Thursday before cold air turns the mix into all snow before ending, with some accumulation likely.
--Dennis Haller, WGN Weather Center Meteorologist
On average, Chicago registers its first 60º temperature of the spring season on Feb. 28. This year, however, that springtime benchmark occurrence was delayed until Saturday’s 67º, almost two weeks beyond the climatological expectation, and the city’s highest reading since 70º was logged last Nov. 4.
East winds and cooler air settle across the city area today and Lake Michigan’s chill kicks in, holding lakeside readings to the 40s. Another surge of strong and possibly severe thunderstorms arrives Sunday night, to be followed by much colder air on Monday.
Yet another storm system brings the real possibility of significantly accumulating snow on Thursday.
Elsewhere, the changing weather pattern finally brought rain to Phoenix, Ariz., on Saturday, thereby terminating an incredible and record-setting run of 143 consecutive rain-free days at that city.
Temperatures are expected to soar into the 60s over much of northeast Illinois this afternoon—the Lake Michigan shoreline may be a few degrees cooler. If Chicago registers a high of 65°, it will be the highest reading thus far in 2006 and the warmest since Nov. 12. The luck of the Irish will be tested today as showers are forecast to bracket the downtown Chicago parade—the forecast calls for showers early this morning and thunderstorms, some possibly severe, in the afternoon. Sunday should be about 10 degrees cooler than Saturday, but still some 10 degrees above seasonal normals. The passage of a strong low pressure system will see winds shift to the northwest Monday, drawing much colder air into northern Illinois. The 24-hour temperature swing will be nearly 30 degrees from the mid 50s shortly after midnight Monday morning to the mid 20s early Tuesday morning. Cold, snowy conditions continue out West with mild, thundery weather in the South and East.
-- Paul Dailey, WGN-TV Meteorologist
Rainfall beginning late Wednesday had accumulated to about one inch across metropolitan Chicago as of 8 p.m. Thursday, with rain continuing, but far heavier amounts were falling downstate and across Indiana. Four inches of rain swamped Carbondale in southern Illinois, with rain continuing there as well.
Through 8 p.m. Thursday, total March 1-9 precipitation as measured at O’Hare (Chicago’s official weather reporting site) was 1.31”. That is nearly as much (1.48”) as fell in all of March one year ago, when the city was just entering into an intense drought whose lingering effects the current rain is only now helping to alleviate.
Computer models indicate a continuation—even an intensification—of the wet pattern. Two additional storm systems, each potential copious rain producers, have Chicago in their sights: one centered on Saturday and another starting late Sunday.
Golf-ball sized hail bombarded Pecatonica, Ill. (90 miles northwest of Chicago) just before 8 p.m. Wednesday, a stunning example of the sudden appearance of atmospheric instability in the area, and only a harbinger of vigorous weather to follow.
The National Weather Service indicates a risk of severe thunderstorms today across a huge swath of the central United States extending from Chicago to the Gulf Coast.
Locally, the suddenly active spring season is poised to throw a variety of weather punches in upcoming days: thunderstorms, heavy rains, howling winds, mild and then cold temperatures, even some snow.
Today’s rain and thunderstorms diminish tonight. Then mild, moist air surges in on Saturday, accompanied by another round of strong thunderstorms; yet more thunderstorms arrive by Monday, and finally, sharply colder with snow flurries Tuesday.
Precipitation totals resulting from bouts of rain and thunderstorms today into Friday and again late Saturday into Monday appear sufficient to terminate drought conditions that have persisted across northern Illinois since March, 2005.
After protracted drought, the moisture is welcome, but two potent weather systems—the second following quickly on the feels of the first—could lead to minor river flooding next week.
Elsewhere, the changing national weather pattern may at long last bring rain to portions of the Southwest that have been rain-free for four months. Phoenix, Ariz., last recorded rain on Oct. 18. Even for desert locations accustomed to lengthy dry spells, aridity of that duration is re-writing the record books.
Today marks the 140th consecutive dry day at Phoenix, blowing away the old record of 101 dry days. Phoenix may finally get rain later this week.
The Chicago National Weather Service has designated March 5-11 as Severe Weather Awareness Week in Illinois and Indiana, and the atmosphere seems to be taking a cue from that designation. A consensus of computer models suggests the next 7-12 days will be a meteorologically active period here and across the nation’s midsection as the pattern shifts to warmer, wetter and stormy weather.
A huge U-shaped buckle in jet stream winds is developing over the western U.S., and the core of strong southerly jet winds is forecast to shift over the Midwest by midweek, accompanied by an increasing likelihood of strong thunderstorms and, in the lower levels, by mild moist air.
As often happens in the early spring, the boundary between mild air and chilly, lake-cooled air might lie across northeast Illinois later this week, setting the stage for huge temperature ranges across the city: low 40s far north, near 70º far south.
We usually think in terms of a couple months when we think about winter turning into spring, but the weather pattern is changing so quickly now that it might all happen this week. A scant five days will separate Sunday’s snow and today’s flurries from highs in the lower 60s later this week.
The 1-3 inches of snow that had fallen across the Chicago area as of Sunday evening ended a 22-day “mini snow drought” that had prevailed since Feb. 11 when 1.2” fell. On average, only seven days elapse between accumulating snows at this time of the year.
Midway Airport weather statistician Frank Wachowski reports that Sunday’s snow brings the city’s seasonal snow total to 29 inches, and that is 68 percent of the full-season total of 42.9” that normally falls at Midway.
A major weather pattern change is taking place, and for Chicago that means higher temperatures and showery weather. At least some rain is expected on four of the next six days.
--Richard Koeneman, WGN Weather Center meteorologist
The upcoming week begins on a wintry note with the city facing a slushy accumulation of an inch of snow, possibly 2-4" out toward Rockford and up into southern Wisconsin as a clipper system races southeast into the Ohio Valley.
This will be the city’s first measurable snowfall in three weeks (1.2" fell on Feb. 11) and the most snowcover since 4" on Jan. 20.
True to its volatile nature, March will show its spring face by the end of the week as a major weather pattern realignment occurs. The western United States, which has been mild and rather dry, has begun to turn stormy and colder, whereas the Midwest, which has been chilly and dry, will be turning showery and warmer.
March opens the severe thunderstorm season in Chicago, and the National Weather Service has designated March 5-11 as Severe Weather Awareness Week for Illinois and Indiana. The Weather Service has scheduled drills and exercises to prepare the public.
Saturday’s sunny weather masks the approach of accumulating late-season snow, expected to reach the area Sunday and fall steadily for 6 to 10 hours. As much as 2-4” could fall, though above-freezing pre-storm temperatures Saturday may complicate the accumulation picture by elevating ground and pavement temperatures. The system behind the potential for a late-weekend snow here generated 8-18” totals in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains Friday—only days after peaks there were smothered by 4 foot accumulations.
It hasn’t snowed measurably in Chicago since Feb. 11—more than three weeks ago. The area, still in the midst of a year-long drought, has gone 16 days without measurable precipitation—the longest stretch since a 17-day run extending from last Aug. 21 to Sept. 6.
If 2.6” or more snow falls here Sunday, it would exceed February’s total snowfall to date (2.5”).
--Tom Skilling, WGN-TV Meteorologist
The Chicago area’s never been treated to 80° earlier than on this date 32 years ago in 1974. The reading was nearly a month and a half ahead of the average April 22 date on which 80° first arrives each year at Midway Airport. Friday’s high will struggle to reach the mid 30s—45° lower than the 1974 benchmark.
An eastbound disturbance, currently a Pacific storm, threatens to bring wet snow or a mix of precipitation to the city as early as Sunday. Some accumulation isn’t out of the question especially Sunday night. With seasonal snowfall here (20.3”), the lowest at this point of a season in 10 years, some late weekend snow wouldn’t be all bad.
We’ve posted a list of speakers who are to join us Saturday April 8 at our 25th annual Fermilab Tornado Seminar in Batavia. Check it out at wgntv.com and follow the links to our weather blog.
-Tom Skilling
In 135 years official observations, temperatures here have increased faster in March than any other month. Normal highs surge from 40° on the 1st to 52° on the 31st. Seasonal warming sends more than 50% of daytime readings above 40° for the time each year on March 8. And, the city’s first 70° temperature each year arrives at Midway Airport around March 26.
Blustery east winds all but extinguished daytime warming Wednesday in Chicago and lakeside areas. South suburban highs reached the 50s—a level achieved for a brief time in some far west suburban locations like Aurora—but fell back to the 30s and 40s later in the day.
A disturbance increases cloud and snow shower development as it passes Thursday afternoon. But, the atmospheric offshoot of an eastern Pacific storm could deliver a better organized area of snow by Sunday night and into Monday morning, possibly starting as a mixture.
-Tom Skilling
