The moderate warmth that has dominated so much of Chicago's summer 2009 to date continues another two days. Wednesday and Thursday highs are to reach the lower 80s. But, big changes loom this weekend as long absent heat begins its charge into the Chicago area on 30+ m.p.h. wind gusts which are expected to be in place here Saturday afternoon and like to continue Sunday. The rapidly expanding dome of hot air threatens ignite clusters of active thunderstorms to the west of Chicago over sections of the Plains and western Midwest in coming days. These storms may sweep into the Chicago area Friday night into Saturday morning. The cool outflows which occur with such storms must always be monitored--they've been known to interfere with hot air's movement. But, with the incoming hot air mass expected to become "capped" and unable to produce thunderstorms here Saturday afternoon and evening, mid 90s seem a good bet before the sun sets Saturday and readings may even increase to the upper 90s Sunday. Temperatures at that level this weekend would be the warmest here in three years and mark the first time a weekend has produced back to back 90+-degree highs in just over two years.
Powerful storms storms topple trees, power poles downstate; Kentucky hit by 6-inch-plus rains
The veil of high clouds across the Chicago area Tuesday blew off the tops of powerhouse thunderstorms responsible for damaging winds and driving rains from northern Missouri across central and southern Illinois and Indiana. Gusts to 67 m.p.h. raked Indianapolis and hit 66 m.p.h. in west Lafayette in Indiana. In downstate Illinois, gusts of 60 m.p.h. swept Springfield while Lincoln and Mattoon recorded 55 m.p.h. gusts and Bloomington was swept by 49 m.p.h. gusts. Utility poles and trees snapped at many locations. Meantime, rainfall reached 6.46 inches at Grand Rivers, Kentucky and Louisville's 4.52 inches was a record calendar day rain for the month of August.
Powerful storms storms topple trees, power poles downstate; Kentucky hit by 6-inch-plus rains
The veil of high clouds across the Chicago area Tuesday blew off the tops of powerhouse thunderstorms responsible for damaging winds and driving rains from northern Missouri across central and southern Illinois and Indiana. Gusts to 67 m.p.h. raked Indianapolis and hit 66 m.p.h. in west Lafayette in Indiana. In downstate Illinois, gusts of 60 m.p.h. swept Springfield while Lincoln and Mattoon recorded 55 m.p.h. gusts and Bloomington was swept by 49 m.p.h. gusts. Utility poles and trees snapped at many locations. Meantime, rainfall reached 6.46 inches at Grand Rivers, Kentucky and Louisville's 4.52 inches was a record calendar day rain for the month of August.
