It often takes the powerful winds of a large autumn storm to sweep warm air into Chicago this time of year. That's precisely what happens Thursday in advance of the wind-driven and potentially thundery waves of rainfall expected to produce fall's 2nd heaviest rainfall here Thursday night and Friday. An average of 30 computer rainfall projections suggests 1.19" may fall before Friday closes -- but predictions range as high as 2.57". It will take only 0.6" of additional rain to push the month into the ranks of Chicago's 10 wettest Octobers on record over the past 139 years. At Wednesday's close, October's official O'Hare total stood at 4.63".
Thursday's strengthening southeast winds are predicted to gust to 30 mph by nightfall and are likely to grow even stronger at times Thursday night and Friday. They represent a key element of the approaching storm. Any thunderstorms which arrive within the storm's expansive rain shield may well be able to harness energy from the 60-plus mph winds predicted just above the surface, transferring some of that wind energy down to the surface as powerful gusts.
Before the downpours get going late Thursday night, Chicagoans are in for something of a meteorological treat. Sunshine, in short supply this month -- it's been the 5th cloudiest October on record and the least sunny in a quarter century -- should be abundant.
The day's southeast winds sweep into North Shore suburbs after a trip over Lake Michigan's cool waters. That's a development expected to restrict highs in Waukegan and Kenosha to near 60 degrees while Chicago's lakeshore reaches the mid 60s and some warmer south and southwest suburbs peak in the low 70s. The city has yet to log a 70-degree temperature this month, making it only the third October to do so since 1871.
Storm buries Colorado under 2-plus feet of snow;
threatening Plains severe weather outbreak
The storm behind Chicago's two day "warm-up" has hammered the Rockies and western Plains with the region's biggest snow this season. Totals late Wednesday had reached 35" at Pinecliffe, 28.6" near Nederland, 28.5" just outside Golden and 14" at Boulder -- all in Colorado. The area just south of Denver was under a new 11" snowpack as night fell Wednesday.
A severe weather outbreak threatens to the east in the storm's front-side warm sector Thursday. Areas from Texas north to Oklahoma, Arkansas and southern Missouri are at risk for damaging thunderstorm winds including possible tornadoes.
Thursday's strengthening southeast winds are predicted to gust to 30 mph by nightfall and are likely to grow even stronger at times Thursday night and Friday. They represent a key element of the approaching storm. Any thunderstorms which arrive within the storm's expansive rain shield may well be able to harness energy from the 60-plus mph winds predicted just above the surface, transferring some of that wind energy down to the surface as powerful gusts.
Before the downpours get going late Thursday night, Chicagoans are in for something of a meteorological treat. Sunshine, in short supply this month -- it's been the 5th cloudiest October on record and the least sunny in a quarter century -- should be abundant.
The day's southeast winds sweep into North Shore suburbs after a trip over Lake Michigan's cool waters. That's a development expected to restrict highs in Waukegan and Kenosha to near 60 degrees while Chicago's lakeshore reaches the mid 60s and some warmer south and southwest suburbs peak in the low 70s. The city has yet to log a 70-degree temperature this month, making it only the third October to do so since 1871.
Storm buries Colorado under 2-plus feet of snow;
threatening Plains severe weather outbreak
The storm behind Chicago's two day "warm-up" has hammered the Rockies and western Plains with the region's biggest snow this season. Totals late Wednesday had reached 35" at Pinecliffe, 28.6" near Nederland, 28.5" just outside Golden and 14" at Boulder -- all in Colorado. The area just south of Denver was under a new 11" snowpack as night fell Wednesday.
A severe weather outbreak threatens to the east in the storm's front-side warm sector Thursday. Areas from Texas north to Oklahoma, Arkansas and southern Missouri are at risk for damaging thunderstorm winds including possible tornadoes.
Temperature surge? Sunshine? Did I miss something? It's still as cloudy and clammy as it has been all week!
The sun has not been out since Sunday, and we have patiently been waiting for it to come out today.......can someone tell us cloudy-weary viewers what happened to the sun and "temperature surge" we were promised?
Thank you!
It's quarter to 5pm, and we have been waiting all day for the temperatures to get out of the 50's. At the Cubby Bear the temp is 57.1F.
"Temperatures to Surge"... So far today, the highest temp recorded at the Cubby Bear is 59F. If anything, the temperature has been going down.
I am still a believer in Tom's forecasts, and am still holding out hope that some sudden, miraculous temperature rise is just around the corner.
Still waiting and hoping......
You mean I'm not the only one who didn't see the warm sun today? This October has been awful!