The thick haze and mugginess of Thursday’s opening hours signal an atmosphere awash in tropical moisture. The haze may be just enough to limit warming a few degrees Thursday, holding a number of area highs just shy of 90°. Daytime heating is to coax the moist air to produce isolated t-storms.
Real heat hits this weekend. This year’s second extended string of 90s appears all but certain to produce highs above the 97° peak set Saturday, July 15.
Powerful t-storms spawned three twisters in central Illinois just after 7 p.m. Wednesday. One in Vermilion County downed trees, destroyed a tool shed and damaged several buildings. Parts of Champaign County were inundated by 1-3” of rain.
The 2006 hurricane season is running well behind a year ago. Only two named systems have occurred compared to 7 a year ago—including two Category 4 (131-155 m.p.h. winds) hurricanes.
-Tom skilling
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
