While much of the Chicago area dodged Wednesday's south suburban t-storms, rains
came down hard in a narrow corridor extending from Kendall and Grundy Counties east
into northern Indiana. Cottony cumulus clouds bubbled aloft to heights of 42,000 feet
and Doppler radar rain estimates ranged up to 2 inches. Rainfall gauges measured 0.44
inches at New Lenox and 0.20 inches at Frankfort. The downpours responsible were
accompanied there by frequent lightning.
The summer rains hit in a July about to close with more sunshine than any of the last
eight months. It's the first month with above-normal sun since November. Chicago
weather observer Frank Wachowski reports 77 percent of the month's possible sun -- a
total of 20,653 minutes out of a possible 26,775 is now on the books.
Wednesday's 90-degree high was the site's sixth reading to hit 90 degrees this year.
Thermometers at Alsip hit 93 degrees, 91 degrees at Palatine and 93 degrees at
Janesville, Wis.
MISSOURI SOAKED BY HURRICANE DOLLY'S REMNANTS WEDNESDAY
Sections of Missouri were swamped by remnants of Hurricane Dolly Wednesday. Totals
included 3.05 inches at Lees Summit, 2.78 at Kansas City and 1.63 at St. Louis.
--Tom Skilling, Chief Meteorologist, WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune
