Snow for Election Day

While not a strong storm this next system could bring us our most significant snow since early January. The storm will track out of the Rockies on Monday and into Central Illinois on Tuesday. This is a track that is favorable to bring us accumulating snow but with limited moisture most areas will see 1-3 inches of total accumulation.

 The rest of the week should be quiet with highs mainly in the lower 30s. Another weak dusturbance could bring us some more light to moderate snow on Saturday but no big storms are heading our way.

P.S.- Beware of the groundhog....he does not speak the truth.

Phil

SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 2010

It sure was nice seeing sunshine on Friday wasn’t it? January is traditionally one of the cloudiest months averaging 18 days of cloudy skies, 7 days of clear and sunny skies, and 6 days of partly cloudy conditions. As we closeout January 2010 this weekend, it appears we have more chances of enjoying more sunshine!



If you’re one who is counting down until spring, you’ll be counting the days until March 20th this year. But if you’re hoping for good news in the month of February, keep in mind temperatures are typically on the rise—at least a little. Average highs at the beginning of the month start in the low 30s (lows in the teens), and by the end of the month, highs average near 40 with morning lows in the low 20s. If you’re keeping track of average days of clouds and sun in February, then expect on average—7 sunny and clear days, 6 partly cloudy days, and 16 cloudy days. I’m sure there are many of you who like this cold weather, no need for you to worry—there’s plenty of your kind of weather to last until spring!



Getting back to this weekend’s forecast, cold weather will still dominate with highs in the 20s. But it does appear we climb out of the 20s early in the week with some “balmier” 30s. There are a few chances of light snow, especially on Tuesday, but it shouldn’t big deal. There’s also a slight chance of snow next Friday. Thanks for checking out our weather blog! I’ll be posting more next week. Keep checking back for updates from Jerry, Mike, Tracy, and Phil. Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful weekend. MARK BISHOP

Lake effect heads west

All week long, Tracy and I have been talking about how Friday would bring some lake effect snow to the western shore of Lake Michigan.  Now that area of snow (7:30pm as I write this) stretches along the Illinois shore as flakes fly from Waukegan, south through Chicago, into eastern Will County and Lake County IN.  Even though conditions for lake effect are far from ideal (mainly due to a marginal temperature difference between the lake and the air a few thousand feet abvoe it) these snow showers could certainly be briefly strong enough to cover to the ground.  I expect these snow showers to continue into the first half of tomorrow, before winds shift to the NW bringing the snow toward Michigan.  Most of the weekend looks dry with highs in the 20s both days.

Mike

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2010

Good morning.  Yesterday I shared with you a story from the 1967 snowstorm as told by ABC7 Weather Watcher, Gene.  Today, I wanted to tell you some memories from ABC7 Weather Watcher, Jim, from Lowell, Indiana.  Jim has a farm over in Lowell and he told me that during that snowstorm he was milking cows.  However, the milkmen couldn't get there to pick up the milk because of the storm so they dumped much of it out.  Says they were stranded for a week before they could leave the farm or before the milkmen could start coming back to pick up the milk!  Thank you, Jim, for sharing that story.

Our story today is another cold one.  Expect wind chills below zero throughout the day today and tonight. 

Tracy

Arctic Blast Inbound

Light snow is spreading through the area this afternoon. The amounts will be unimpressive, but the snow heralds the arrival of arctic air which will keep its icy mitts on us through Saturday,  However, at a time of year when record lows are between -10 and -16, this cold snap will not be that unusual.  Lows will be mostly in the single digits with highs tomorrow and Friday in the teens. We'll be on guard for lake-effect snow showers during this period, but significant accumulations are unlikely.  The real weather story for the nation will be made to our south, where a crippling ice and snow storm will paralyze areas from the Southern Plains to the Mid Atlantic. 

Mike

JANUARY 27, 2010

Good morning!

We do have a little snow on the way this afternoon and it will be a very minor snow situation for us.  But, let's rewind...if you have been reading my blogs, you know I love stats and stories.  I have been talking about Chicago's biggest snowstorm on record from January 26-27, 1967.  Many of you have some interesting stories and memories from that year.  I have a fantastic group of weather watchers who call in weather conditions during ABC7 News This Morning.  My weather watcher, Gene from Mundelein, shared with me his memories of 1967 and I wanted to share them with you.  Enjoy...

Just wanted to drop you a note of my memory of not only the snow storm of 1967, but of the winter and spring of 1967. I grew up in Lake Zurich

and that winter snow storm and spring F4 tornado that ripped through Lake Zurich were the weather events that formed my interest in Meteorology. It was just after the tornado that went through LZ, that I watched as a funnel cloud drift overhead, and then touch down a mile north of our house, that I started calling in as a weather observer to Harry Volkman. There was another kid from Wheaton calling in at the same time by the name of Tom Skilling...I think he made a big name for himself! Until my interest in electronics hit me in my Junior year of high school (1971-72) all my courses to that point were pre college courses in Meteorology. Although my career went down the Electronics Engineering path, I've always been involved in weather activities since mostly as a trained storm spotter more recently with the Lake County RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency System) group, my other hobby being Amateur Radio since the early 70's. Can you guess how it was going to HS as a radio/weather geek (nerd back then!)

It's been amazing and fun over the years how both interests have blended together, and it was those two weather events in 1967 that had huge impact on me as a kid.

 

One specific fun memory of that snow storm, besides the almost week off of school was being able to walk onto our house roof on top of the drifts of snow and sled off the roof! Mom and Dad weren't to happy as you can imagine!

 

Thank you again Gene, for sending in that story!

Tracy

Big storm targets areas to our south

Looks like the end of the week will feature a major winter storm, complete with ice and snow, working from the desert SW through the southern plains, TN valley and Mid Atlantic.  We will have a glancing blow from the moisture, but the cold air dragged in behind the storm will put us into a two-day deep freeze starting Thursday.  There is a possibility of lake-effect snow on Friday on the western shore, otherwise, there's not much of a chance of adding to the January snow total.  So far, we've had 8.0" snow this month, which is below the monthly average of 11.3"  As for temperatures, January is going to be close to normal.  We are actually running a 1.2 degree surplus as of today, but with the cold air that's coming, we could erase that and end up slightly colder than normal.

Mike

Sloppy Rush Hour Coming

A fairly wide band of snow is rotating through the Chicago area this afternoon.  While accumulations are not expected to be substantial, visibilities may be reduced to a mile or less in some of the heavier bursts of snow this evening.  A quick inch or so will be possible, so allow some extra time on the roads tonight.  The snow will be followed by gusty winds and falling temperatures.  Highs tomorrow will be about 10 degrees colder than today, but the stronger gush of arctic air spills into the Midwest Thursday. Highs here Thursday and Friday will only reach the teens with sub-zero wind chills likely at times. 

Mike

MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 2010

Good morning!  Attention snow and cold-weather lovers.  This is "kind of" your week.  We will get some snow today which will continue into Tuesday morning.  Plus additional LIGHT SNOW is expected here on Wednesday.  I must emphasize the word light for both of these "events."  So, no heavy snow or big accumulations are expected, which is why I say it's "kind of" your week if you love snow.   It is the first accumulating snow we will have had here since January 8th when 3.5" of snow fell.

As for temperatures, the colder air is definitely on the way.  Last time we had a high temperature in the 20s was on January 17th when the high was 29 degrees.  The last time we had a high temperature the teens was on January 10th when the high was 18degrees.  We will see highs in the 20s on Tuesday and Wednesday and highs in the teens on Thursday and Friday. 

Tracy

A RETURN TO WINTER

After a two week reprieve we are finally going to see a return of wintry weather. The high Sunday made it up to 46° which is the warmest it has been since December 1. Our last measurable snow happened back on January 8 when we saw 3.5 inches of snow. While the snow that will fall over the next couple of days will be light we could see just enough snow to see some slick roads especially Monday night and again Wednesday night.

 The coldest air will arrive late in the week when low temperatures will dip into the single digits and highs will possibly not make it out of the teens. While certainly below arevage this is far from record breaking but the cold will probably linger into the first parts of February.

Our next chance for snow after Wednesday night will come next Tuesday when a system could bring us a moderate amount of snow but no big storms are in the picture for the next 7 to 10 days at least as it looks now.

  Phil