WEATHER SNAP SHOTS: September 2009 Archives

Jackie Evans, a student at Valparaiso University sent along these photos of high wave hitting the beach in Porter County, Indiana Monday. Peak wind gusts there reached 52 m.p.h. Thanks for sharing these photos with us Jackie.

 Bill Snyder, WGN Weather Producer

 

 

 Photos by Jackie Evans

Thanks to Kyle VanderMeer for sharing this shot he took last Saturday over Huntley, Illinois. Kyle and his friend Arnie we flying in a retired US Air Force T34 Beechcraft.  Kyle reported that it was a bit hazy with the ceiling around 2600 feet. The shot was taken just below the clouds at about 2500 feet.

Here are two photos taken in northern Wisconsin on Wednesday by John H. Kloch, who notes that the tree colors there are starting to change a little. Thanks John for the great photos!

Our thanks to the Aspen Skiing Company for these shots to Monday's snow in the Colorado Rockies---specifically in the Aspen/Snowmass area. In her e-mail to us, Melissa Rhines tells us it's "been snowing and 'snaining' (snowy rain) all day" with more in the forecast. Our in-house RPM (Rapid Precision Mesoscale) model confirms this and suggests accumulating snow is not only likely to whiten mountaintops across Colorado by in sections of Wyoming---but some spots in Utah as well!  THANKS for the photos Melissa!
 
Tom Skilling
 

 

Sister Bonnie Boilini sends us this intriguing photo and asks, "Why is it when you are out West, the streaks in the clouds showing rain are sometimes black and white?"  I certainly see why you ask the question after looking at this photo. I've shown it to my colleagues here in the office and, without being there to witness this scene first hand, we can only speculate.

But our best guess, Sister Boilini, is that what we're looking at here are a series of rainshafts--several of which may involve microbursts which hit the ground and kick dust into the area. The ones which appear white are being illuminated by light. You see this sort of phenomenon on the Front Range of the Rockies in eastern Colorado with some frequency.  Rainshafts in the shadows appear darker.

It's worth noting that when you see white streaks emanating from the base of a thunderstorm, it's not uncommon for them to be hail shafts--columns of hail pouring out of the thunderhead above. Sister Boilini tells us the picture was taken near Antelope Canyon in Page, Arizona, and that she had just gone through a terrible storm. Great beautiful photo, Sister Boilini--thanks for sharing it with us!



Photo courtesy of Sister Bonnie Boilini

When it comes to beautiful photography in the United Kingdom, Mark Vogan never disappoints us. Check out these beautiful shots taken on a recent two-day trip during which Mark and his wife Karen toured Wales. Mark tells us:

"Karen and I took a brief trip down to Wales for two nights, one night in the tiny village of Dale on the Pembrokeshire coast (south coast) and the other on the north coast. We drove up along the west coast and also through Sanowdonia National Park. The guest house owner said we had the best weather since June!"

Spectacular shots, Mark!  THANKS as always for keeping us abreast of the UK's fascinating geography and weather--and all the best to you and Karen!









Photos courtesy of Mark Vogan, Glasgow, Scotland

Freddy Cahue was biking along Lake Michigan Wednesday and photographed one of the waves kicked up by the day's powerful 30 m.p.h. northeasterly wind gusts. THANKS Freddy---GREAT SHOT!
 
Tom Skilling
 

Photo courtesy Freddy Cahue, Chicago
 

Our thanks to Debra Prisby of Lowell, Indiana who snapped this beautiful sunset photo from the deck of the Lighthouse Restaurant in Cedar Lake, Indiana. Debra tells us she was enjoying dinner with he fiancée and his son, who is a Staff Sergeant with the U.S. Air Force and was home on leave!  Debra says dinner was great and that she enjoyed the view!  So are we through your photos, Debra!  MANY THANKS!
 
Tom Skilling
 

Photos courtesy of Debra Prisby, Lowell, Indiana
 

Check out these shots of central Iowa ground fog which come to us from Douglas H. Hanbury.  They were taken between 6:30 and 7 a.m. this past Monday morning (September 14, 2009) outside Tama, Iowa--located 52 miles west of Cedar Rapids of about 65 miles northeast of Des Moines.  The highway shots, Douglas tells us, were taken within 10 miles of Tama mainly on US 63.   These are beautiful shots, Douglas!! THANKS so much for sharing them with us!

Tom Skilling






Photos courtesy of Douglas H. Hanbury, East Peoria, Illinois

Flying through a "hole in the wall" of thunderstorms at 8,000 ft. over Springfield, Illinois this past Thursday
 
Our friend and ace pilot Anson Mount sends us this photo he took last Thursday flying over Springfield at the 8,000 ft. level last.  He writes:
 
"I was actually in controlled airspace and was being directed right into this hole! It was a wall of cumulonimbus building along a wave downstate that afternoon. I like the fact that you can see the clouds in the distance!"
 
Very cool shot! THANKS Anson----ALWAYS great hearing from you! By the way, Anson asks we remind you that the Waukegan Air Show takes place this weekend at the Waukegan Regional Airport. Hope the turnout is great!
 
Tom Skilling
 
 
Photo courtesy of Anson A. Mount III, Algonquin, IL
 
 

It's not your imagination--those ARE palm trees on Oak Street Beach. These pictures come to us from David W. Skyzyniarz who tells us in his e-mail that he considers riding a bike through Northerly Island--especially in the morning time of the year----an amazing place to take in the beauty and sounds of our Chicago Lakefront.  Can't agree with you more, David. By the way, regarding the palm trees------Zvez Kubat, spokesperson for the Chicago Park District, tells me they were planted by the folks who operate Oak Street Beachstro--that's the restaurant on the beach. The palm trees are obviously not native to our area---but Zvez tells me they are quite able to survive our winter weather. In fact, they were planted last year.  Thanks to David Skrzyniarz for the pics and Zvez at the Park District!
 
Tom Skilling


 



 Photos courtesy of David W. Skrzyniarz, First Analysis Securities Corp, Chicago

Corrina De Maria sends us this fascinating shot taken Monday in downtown Chicago. In it, you can see a shadow being cast by the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower).  She writes:
 
"I couldn't quite figure out why or how this happened, but while I was riding by the Sears Tower I saw it casting a shadow upon the sky! The sun was behind the building. I have my theories, but I was wondering what you thought."
 
 
Corrina, what's happening here is the backlit Willis Building is casting its shadow on the low "scud clouds" making their way across the Loop. You've caught the whole thing magnificently in your photo!  THANKS for sharing it with us!
 
Tom Skilling

 
Photo courtesy of Corrina S. DeMaria, Chicago

Jake Krippelz from Chicago sent us this picture of his palm tree. He tells us:
 
"I have included a pic of my palm tree that I have pool side at my house, they're King Palms you can't get north of Orlando Fla. I transported them here 6 years ago and they do great here in Chicago during the summer months out by my pool, I keep the in my Gazebo during the winter you can see the moon rise in the back round"
 

Thanks for the shot Jake!

This is quite a shot from Margaret Espiritu, a former Chicagoan who writes to tell me she watches our weather programs as often as she can from her new home in San Diego. Having seen a shot we showed from Arizona the other night, she says she thought we might like THIS one taken over San Diego! YOU ARE SO RIGHT, Margaret!  What a spectacular shot!  Thanks for sharing it with us--and great hearing from you!

Tom Skilling

Many thanks for Kevin Rooker who shares this August 31 photo of cumulus clouds near Chicago's lakefront taken at 7:30 a.m. near Foster and Sheridan Road. 
 
Tom Skilling
 

Photo courtesy of Kevin Rooker, Chicago
 

Michael Kellems sends us this beautiful shot of the masts of sailboats silhouetted against Sunday's beautiful sky just beyond sunset in Michigan City, Indiana!  It's quite a photo, Michael!  MANY THANKS for sharing it with us!
 
--Tom Skilling


 
Photo courtesy of Michael Kellems, Michigan City, Indiana
 

Matt and Maggie Karns from Sugar Grove send us this shot of "Charlotte''s web". They tell us:
 
My wife and I watch you every night on the nine o'clock news.  We are always intrigued by the neat photographs our local Chicagoans take in their neighborhoods, so we decided to take this picture of the most amazing spider web ever spun!  It measured 22 inches by 24 inches and it was hanging from our garage gutter.  The coolest part about this spider web photo is that if you look closely in the top right corner, you will see the spider all curled up!
 
This is a great shot Matt and Maggie!  THANKS for sharing this with us!
 
Tom Skilling
 


Photo courtesy of Matt and Maggie Karns, Sugar Grove, Illinois

 

Tom Sidor of Algonquin shares these pictures from his bike ride Sunday morning. He described the morning as "eerie" and slightly dangerous for road biking, but the pictures he sent us are definitely amazing. Thanks Tom!

Gary Wojton from Scottsdale, Arizona sent us this beautiful picture of monsoon clouds.
Thanks for the great shot Gary!

Kathy Nadura from Bensenville, Ill. sent us this great snapshot. She tells us:

"I thought you would enjoy this picture which I took on Labor Day morning in my back yard.  It really is a weather bug!"

Thanks for the shot Kathy!


Photo courtesy of Kathy Nadura, Bensenville, Ill.

In recent days, some of our blog readers have sent us some pretty amazing photos of morning fog as seen across the Chicago area. We'd like to share a few of them with you:

Nicholas Andrews sent us this image of fog draping Lake Point Tower (near Navy Pier) on Sunday.



Mike and Candi Straub sent these beautiful images from their farm in Harvard. The pictures were taken last Friday morning between 6 and 6:20 a.m.





Jeremy Draftz sent this picture of fog seen over the Lake in the Hills Airport early Friday morning.



Finally, Lisa Histrom of Hebron took this picture while driving in Lake Geneva area, also on Friday morning.



Thanks to everyone for sharing their pictures with us!

Mike Tannura sends us this great "before and after" sequence of clouds rolling in off the lake Friday morning as seen from his lakeside condo. Tannura explains: "This morning has been particularly neat -- sunny, then foggy, then clouds whizzing around the building, then sunny." Thanks Mike for the great pictures!

Virginia Drozek of Elgin sends us these pictures of a foggy yet beautiful sunrise in Sugar Grove in the past few days. Thanks Virginia for sharing these wonderful images with us!

Thursday's easterly winds carried these low-level "scud" clouds off Lake Michigan into the downtown area Thursday---a process which Bob Winkelmann captures so beautifully in this shot taken looking south down Lakeshore Drive toward the Michigan Avenue Exit.  Often, the downtown buildings produce an "orographic lift" effect, much as mountains do.  That what happens when incoming winds encounter a feature which causes the air to rise and cool.  When the air being lifted is near saturation, the cooling induced by lifting the air is just enough to saturate the air and produce the water droplets of a cloud. It's one reason clouds can form over the downtown area while surrounding skies remain clear.  This is a terrific shot, Bob!  THANKS so much for sharing it with us!
 
Tom Skilling

Damon Frugoli shares these shots of a shallow layer of ground fog which hovered just above the wetlands behind his home in northwest suburban Gilbert, Illinois---a bit northwest of Elgin. It's a scene that has no doubt been repeated many times in recent cool mornings given the calm which has prevailed within the high pressure which has been a fixture of our weather the past six days!  Great shots, Damon!  THANKS very much!!

Tom

Check these out! These incredibly timely shots of California's devastating wildfires come to us from Mary Novak of Flossmoor who took them on a flight back to Chicago from Burbank Tuesday. In her e-mail accompanying the shots, Mary tells us:
 
"As you can see, the California fires are causing much smoke and some unusual cloud-like formations."
 
These are terrific, Mary--THANKS very much for sharing them with us!
 
Tom Skilling
 









Photos courtesy of Mary Novak, Flossmoor, Illinois