This year's dry August weather is a stunning change from a year ago. Just 0.15 of an
inch has fallen at O'Hare in the 22 days since Aug. 5. That's just 5 percent of the
long-term average, and the driest Aug. 5-27 since the 0.14 of an inch fell in that period
in 1963. It's little wonder lawns are looking brown and area farmers are contemplating
spraying fields to counter a build-up of insects attracted to the dry weather. The
Chicago area had been doused by 9.67 inches in the same period a year ago -- 64
times as much rain! What a difference a year makes!
The dry weather increases the importance of any thunderstorms which erupt Thursday
or Thursday night. But those storms won't affect all areas -- just 30 to 50 percent of
the area may see a storm.
GUSTAV LURCHES TOWARD GULF
Hurricane Gustav threatens to travel over the Gulf of Mexico's infamous Loop Current
once clearing the Caribbean in coming days. That's an ominous development. Warm
water runs more than 2,000 feet deep in that region. It has fueled explosive
intensification in storms like Katrina in the past and threatens to turn Gustav into a
powerhouse storm with potential 100+ m.p.h. winds -- the season's strongest yet.
--Tom Skilling, Chief Meteorologist, WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune
