NATIONAL WEATHERPERSON'S DAY???

Good morning all!  That is correct...today is NATIONAL WEATHERPERSON'S DAY!  PLEASE no cards, no cake, no gifts.  It's my hobby, which also happens to be my job, and I love it.  The only reason I bring it up is because perhaps you're wondering why this is NATIONAL WEATHERPERSON'S DAY.  SO, here is a link to the National Weather Service office website out of Chicago, and I will let let them do the explaining!     http://www.crh.noaa.gov/news/display_cmsstory.php?wfo=lot&storyid=21403&source=0

Tracy

FREEZING WILL FEEL GOOD!

Good morning!  Yes, it's bitterly cold today and the snow has been relentless from Portage on east.  In fact, those of you in Chesterton, Town of Pines, Beverly Shores may easily see more lake-effect snow today.  But tomorrow....yes, tomorrow, we should get to "freezing."  A whopping 32 degrees!  I have repeatedly said this winter season that our daytime highs haven't even reached the average low for the day.  At least tomorrow, we should get to average...AVERAGE NEVER FELT SO GOOD!

REALLY??? SIX MORE WEEKS OF WINTER?

Early this morning, Punxsutawney Phil, saw his shadow.  Interesting...there were a lot of clouds at the time.  As has been the case in recent years, I have to believe that lights from the television crews assisted in Phil's prediction of SIX MORE WEEKS OF WINTER.  Well, the next two days may simulate Phil's prediction but after that a nice February thaw looks earmarked for Chicago!  A "taste" of spring? 

Lake-Effect Threatens Area Before Warmup

Well, just when you though it was safe to go outside without a shovel, it looks like the combination of colder air blowing at the just the right (or wrong) direction over the warmer lake waters will create pesky snow showers starting tomorrow night. The western shore of the lake will be the hot spot for snow, with the area eventually shifting into Indiana and Michigan by Wednesday. As is usually the case with lake effect, amounts to forecast in any one area are tricky. Certainly 2-4" will be possible over much of the counties adjoining Lake Michigan. But there is a risk of quite a bit more, and this will need to be monitored. The worst of this will likely occur Tuesday, but there will be intermittent snow from Monday evening through Wednesday in the Chicago area. After that, it's THAW TIME! A week's worth of highs between 35-48 will commence Thursday... marking one of the longest runs of "mild" weather this winter.

Mike

groundhog day

I have always had ambivalent feelings toward Groundhog Day. Here is a furry little creature that everyone loves forecasting the weather for the next six weeks. If Punxsutaney Phil is wrong no one will blame him but us on the other hand well we hear about it anytime the forecast isn't exactly correct. Don't get me wrong I'm not envoius of a woodchuck that has to live in an outside burrow but it would be nice not to be the brunt of stale jokes. For example; "You have the only job where you can be wrong 50% of the time and still get paid".

Actually we are right about 95% of the time for the first 24 hours. From there our percentage does go down but as we like to say this is not an exact science.

I've learned to accept Ground hog Day for what it is; A day of having fun based on a groundhog seeing his shadow. In fact one of my favorite movies is Groundhog Day. Matter of fact ,I just might have to watch that movie later tonight and get a great chuckle out of Bill Murray playing a disgruntled weatherman.

                                              Yours truly,

                                                                 Phil Schwarz