A compact low pressure system lifting from Missouri into Chicago as April enters its
final day threatens the area with its second deluge in less than a week. Waves of
thundery downpours, capable of 1- to 2-inch rain tallies, could send sections of the
waterlogged Chicago area into flood before the storms scatter and diminish
mid-afternoon and beyond. The rainy onslaught continues the exceptionally wet trend
that has dominated this spring, generating more than a foot of rain (12.06 inches) since
March 1 at Midway---the heaviest total on record there for the period. Rainfall this spring
is nearly three times last spring's 4.34 inches.
With the ground so saturated, it’s estimated it could take five to six dry days before
many area farmers could get into their fields. But additional showers Thursday night
and potentially significant rains early next week show little sign of allowing such an
extended period without rain. Area farmers like to get corn planted by May 15 because
yields drop two to three bushels each day beyond that date.
The same system behind Thursday’s rain here swamped sections of Oklahoma and
Texas Wednesday—the site of devastating wildfires only two weeks ago. Four inches fell
at Altus, Okla., nearly 4 inches was recorded at Wichita Falls, Texas.
Interior Alaska's record-breaking 70s warmer than Chicago
Fairbanks, Alaska's Eielson Air Force Base---with a 73-degree high Wednesday---was
just one of many sites from interior Alaska east into Canada’s Yukon Territory to
establish new records for the date.
--Tom Skilling, Chief Meteorologist, WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune
