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
