A series of downpour-generating thunderstorms drenched an area from eastern Iowa into central Illinois and downstate Indiana Tuesday, only flirting with the Chicago area but stranding motorists for a time near Mattoon. Rainfall with the southeastbound t-storms was eyecatching, totaling 5.70” just south of Cedar Rapids and 5” near Shellsburg—both in Iowa. In central Illinois, 4.40” walloped Windsor, while nearby Neoga recorded 3.95”. Mattoon’s rainfall totaled 2.93”. Even sections of the Chicago area didn’t completely escape the rain. Pontiac recorded nearly an inch (0.98”), while Oak Brook received 0.63”.
The storms erupted on the eastern flank of a punishingly hot mass of air which baked the Plains a third day. Only the rain-cooled storm outflow deflected the heat away from Chicago. Readings topped out at 106° at Pine Ridge, S.D. and Valentine, Neb.
--By Tom Skilling, WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
