Flooding rains

Torrential downpours boasting 3"-per-hour rainfall have been plaguing parts of the Chicago area early this evening.  This may go into the books as one of the wettest calendar days in June ever in Chicago.  As of 5pm, O'Hare had 3.63" which set a record for the date, tied the monthly average, and ranked 3rd for wettest day ever in June. It's rained more since then, so we'll be adding to the moisture misery before things dry out late tonight and tomorrow.

Severe Storms Friday

Several waves of intense storms have already raked the area. So far, the worst of it has peppered the northern burbs and city.  1"+ diameter hail, some minor wind damage, and torrential 3" rain totals have been reported.  With sunshine breaking out, new storms will likely re-fire in this juicy, unstable airmass.  I'm noting an outflow boundary laid down by previous storms in the I-80 corridor which could be a focal point for new development.  The severe storm risk will end tonight with the passage of a weak cold front.

Mike

grrrr...

I am sorry.  I wish I COULD make the weather.  For all of you who had plans to go the Crosstown Classic last night, I am sorry.  I get VERY FRUSTRATED if a forecast does not justify and I go back and take a look at what went wrong.  And while I said the heavier rains would come to us between 3 & 8pm yesterday, I really thought that the game would get in....DELAYED, but in.  I was wrong.  For that, I am sorry. 

I often compare forecasting to building a puzzle.  It's like grabbing pieces of the atmosphere and putting them together to fit into a nice tidy forecast.  But yesterday, the forecast wasn't so neat.  I admit that the rain started earlier and ended later than my forecast suggested.  I put a lot of weight in to different models.  One particular model I studied yesterday suggested about .2" worth of rain.  That obviously was out to lunch.  In reading some upcoming forecast discussions, one suggests "models likely are not handling this convective scenario too well."  Obviously, yesterday, the models did not handle our scenario too well and I had put too much faith in the output of that data.  A piece of my puzzle was missing. 

  Just know, the weather affects us all.  It is VERY FRUSTRATING and enormously disappointing when it's the weather that ruins your golf outing, picnic. baseball game plan, etc.  I have had people ask me, WHY would you admit on TELEVISION that you were wrong about a forecast...well, it's important to take responsibility for your errors.  And while I can't make the weather, or change the weather, I have to do my best to give you the information you need to plan your day.  It's what I attempt to do every single day I'm here.  I'm just sorry that I missed a puzzle piece. 

Tracy

EVERYONE is entitled...

to their opinion!  Perhaps you liked the cooler pattern.  However, as we recently stated, and as was correctly written by my colleague, Mike Caplan, the pattern change we talked about last week is underway.  All signs are certainly pointing to a break from the cooler weather and a turn to a more "June-like" pattern.  After today, we should start to see the 80s here to stay for a while. 

Summer officially arrives on Sunday.  Maybe summer-like weather is ready to stick around for a visit.

Tracy

Greetings on this Friday...

I was told yesterday that when Hosea and Judy tossed to me in the ABC7 Weather Center, I had a major scowl on my face.  It was on purpose.  Once again, we woke up to rain and I heard from many viewers who were also scowling.  Really...what ARE your feelings about this spring?  Just please be kind....The majority of people I have heard from are really frustrated with this weather.  Someone asked my daughter if she was having a good time off from school for summer vacation.  She said, "well, I don't like this weather.  Summer will be here very soon.  I hope the weather changes.  But my mom just reports the weather...she can't make it."

Sweetie, for you, I really do wish I could create whatever weather you wanted.  Hopefully the pattern will break and you will have be able to go to the park and ride your bike as much as you want. 

Love, Mommy

aka Tracy Butler

MAMA...THIS WEATHER HAS BEEN TERRIBLE!

Those are the opinions expressed by my child.  And while perhaps you may be enjoying this spring, I have to agree with her.  It seems as though beautiful, clear, dry and low-humidity days have been rare.  That's an awful lot to ask in this part of the country, but it seems as though this spring has been more dreary than pleasant.

We only have had six days which have reached at least 80 degrees this year.  It seems to me we should have more!  So, I went back a few years to see how the 80s stack up to this year.  From January 1-June 9, 2008, we had eight days that reached at least 80. 

Jan. 1- June 9 2007  --  19 days

Jan. 1-June 6  2006  --  13 days....

so whether it's the music you like or the temperatures are you singing "bring back the 80s?"

Tracy

 

Severe Storms Possible

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 7pm CDT for most of the ABC-7 viewing area.  Right now, Indiana and Michigan counties are not included, but the storms will eventualy cross those areas as well.  Large hail and damaging winds are the primary threats.  Mike

30s in June

Congrats to Waukegan Regional Airport for winning the cold prize this morning with a low of 37! West Chicago and Aurora weren't far behind posting 39s of the their own.  No reports of frost however, but tonight promises to be another chiller with numbers similar to last night's April-like readings.  Tomorrow we should shoot the Hg into the upper 70s, with ample sunshine.  That leaves us with the weekend.  It looks like a cold front will move into the area from the north, which will knock temps back into the 60s Saturday. But as far as rainfall is concerned, it's looking more likely that rainfall will be spotty and light this weekend.  New computer models are unimpressed with heavy rainfall prospects for us, so I'm riding that pony for the time being.  Expect temps to roar back up Sunday and Monday towards 80!

WELCOME BACK, APRIL!!!

Good morning!

Our morning low at O'Hare this morning was 42 degrees! While chilly, it was not a record.  The record low for today is 35 degrees.  But 42???  On June 4th???  42 is the average low for late April.  And some of you did have actual temperatures in the 30s this morning!  We may see more of the same tonight, but Friday afternoon LOOKS FABULOUS!!!

Have a terrific day!

Tracy

FRESH BACK...AND GLAD TO BE HOME!

 Good morning all!  I recently had the good fortune of visiting the Florida Panhandle.  I was assurred of the wonderful, sugary-sand beach, the magnificent golf courses and the promise of crab cakes and sweet tea every day!  But of course when you go on vacation, what is thee one thing you want to be assurred of???

GOOD WEATHER!!!  Well, just know, even a meteorologist is not exempt from bad weather.  The first two days of my trip, I couldn't see a beach, a golf course and NO I DIDN'T TAKE AN UMBRELLA!  Do YOU take an umbrella when you go on vacation?  I knew there would be rain, I was telling all my colleagues here that I would be flying into torrential rain..and it happened.  But, with everything else, I didn't take an umbrella!  And fortunately, it only rained the first two days of my trip.  The weather improved greatly and somewhere, there is an alligator enjoying A LOT OF MY GOLF BALLS!

Tracy