The last time 19 of the first 26 days of October reported at least a trace of rain was 1925--84 years ago. No wonder the month's sunny spells--like the one predicted Tuesday--are so warmly greeted by Chicagoans. Only two Octobers over the 139-year observational record here have logged more days on which rain has fallen: 1898 with 21 days and 1925 with 20 days. With at least three additional spells of rain on the way before the month closes at midnight Saturday night, computer rainfall projections suggest October is on track to finish as one of the 10 wettest on record.
Dramatic buckling of the jet stream is setting huge and very wintry weather changes underway over much of the mountainous West. Big storms form when jet streams buckle. By late Monday, ten Western states had been placed under various weather advisories for snow and high winds. Forecasts suggest as much as 6 to 15 inches of snow may cover the high country of western Nebraska while some mountain peaks in Colorado and Wyoming could see 15 to 30 inches. The same storm sets up powerful southerly winds from the ground tens of thousands of feet into the atmosphere. It's a development which threatens a severe weather outbreak through the nation's mid-section Thursday and Friday--a situation which could send thunderstorms rumbling across the Chicago area. But the same set-up offers this area a shot at the month's first 70-degree temperature.
As daylight fades--Tuesday is to see 4.65 fewer hours of daylight than our longest day back on June 21--and loses intensity--we receive only 31 percent of the energy from late October sunlight than June sunlight--winds become critically important in transporting warmth north from the tropics before the air can cool. The late-week weather set-up may also include 40-plus mph wind gusts Thursday night into Saturday night--winds likely to buffet trick or treaters here.
Harvest weather continues to be a nightmare for area farmers
The Fall 2009 harvest continues at glacial speed--slowed by the season's wet weather. USDA reported Monday that only 14 percent of Illinois' corn and 21 percent of the corn in Indiana has been harvested--a fraction of the 77 and 65 percent five-year averages. Wisconsin farmers have harvested only 9 percent of that state's corn crop compared to an average of 36 percent.
Mr. Skilling, I LOVE your new glasses!!
Elsie, I just showed Tom what you wrote, and he wanted me to tell you...
"Thanks so much!!"
Hi - could someone explain what went wrong here today? I could not have stated it better, "Sun welcome after the most rainy October days in 84 years"; however, today turned out to be just another cloudy and cool day! From the headline I just quoted above, you can imagine everyone's disappointment. Perhaps with an explanation of some kind as to what went wrong, today's disappointing weather would be easier to take?
Thank you as always for your time, interesting and accurate forecasts, and your fascinating weather blog.