Strong northeast winds rushing into the latest spring storm to churn across southern
Midwest will take a big bite out of the mild 50 and low 60-degree temperatures
observed across the Chicago area Thursday. The 58-degree high at O'Hare International
Airport was April, 2009's warmest yet-but areas spared a cooling easterly afternoon
lake breeze posted even warmer readings. Highs included 64 degrees at Libertyville, 63
at Oswego and 62 at Buffalo Grove, Itasca and Geneva.
Downstate Illinois and Indiana are in for a soaking Friday. Rainfalls exceeding 1 inch
are predicted from St. Louis east to Bloomington, Ind., and Louisville, and severe
thunderstorms could erupt north to the Ohio River. Monster thunderstorms exploded to
life Thursday afternoon, towering 46,000 feet into the atmosphere.
La Nina fading, but summer impact here is not clear
The chilly La Nina which may well have played a role in winter's active Midwest weather
pattern is fading. Climate forecasters suggest the coming summer (June through
August) is to be one of 32 since 1950 between a La Nina and El Nino in the equatorial
Pacific. It's a development offers few clues on summer temperatures.
