Early Monday’s thunder-peppered downpours produced the Chicago area’s heaviest 24 hour rain total in nearly 3 years. The 1.66” collected before sunrise in the official rain gauge at O’Hare hasn’t been equaled since the 2.26” which fell July 31 and August 1, 2003.
Midway Airport was drenched by 1.47”—1.15” of which fell in a blinding 15 minute cloudburst which started around 12:15 a.m. Even more impressive rain tallies originated from National Weather Service cooperative observers in western suburban Wheaton (3.14”), Glen Ellyn (2.75”), Elmhurst (2.05”) and McHenry (2.03)”.
Heavy as recent rains have been here, the totals pale in comparison to those observed recently out East. With new downpours looming, Boston reported a combined May/June rain tally of 22.39” Monday—the heaviest two month total in 135 years of official records dating back to 1872.
-Tom Skilling
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
