Rain has been in remarkably short supply in recent weeks -- hardly enough to keep up
with the 1.40 inches of water lost each week to evaporation in the warm August sun.
The last measurable rain to fall here was the 0.06 inches at O'Hare on Aug. 13. Truly
significant rain has been absent even longer. It was almost three weeks ago that a
lightning-laced thunderstorm complex unleashed driving downpours here totaling 2.43
inches at O'Hare.
Increasingly moist air will lead to noticeably higher humidities in coming days and
growing prospects that scattered thunderstorms will occur. Upper winds are to remain
comparatively light as the air's moisture content surges to nearly 2 inches. This means
any thunderstorms that develop may be capable of some heavy downpours --
especially Friday and Friday night then again later Saturday or Saturday night. Things
should dry out Sunday.
MORE RAIN FROM FAY IN MELBOURNE, FLA. THAN IN 2 HURRICANES IN 2004
Central Florida is reeling after rain of historic proportions associated with Tropical
Storm Fay. More rain has fallen in east central Florida -- 17.63" at the National Weather
Service Office in Melbourne in recent days -- than fell there in two 2004 hurricanes --
Frances and Jeanne.
--Tom Skilling, Chief Meteorologist, WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune
