Sunny.. well partly.

Let me preface this by saying overall, there will be a delightful string pleasant weather here for next few days.  Temperatures will gradually warm each day as we head into the weekend, and by the time we get to Saturday, upper 80s with ample humidity will give the air that mid-summer feel.  Today started with total sunshine, but a pocket of cold temperatures aloft is leading to some instability and the buildup of a fairly extensive cumulus field.  It may look rather cloudy at times this afternoon, but I think partly sunny should cut it for the day.  Tonight, as skies clear, the mercury may dip to the coldest levels here since May 20th.  40s are possible in outlying areas!  I'll have the latest on Tropcail Storm Alex, which will likely be a hurricane befroe long, on the 4pm show. Could moisture from Alex affect our weekend or beyond?  Tune in for my thoughts.

Mike

Nice week ahead

After the bashing we took for the last week and a half, it's nice to see a more benign pattern emerging.  I can't give the all-clear just yet however, as a disturbance will be diving in from Wisconsin this afternoon. A few showes may pop up, but they should be relatively weak, and short-lived.  Once that has passed, refreshing air will bathe Chicagoland for the next few days.  Much lower humidity and temperatures in the 70s will be common Tuesday-Thursday.  But fear not, fans of the heat!  The mercury should surge into the upper 80s just in time for the holiday weekend.

Mike

Drying out and cleaning up

After six days of intermittent thrashing, the Chicago area is finally being treated to a day of calm... well actually two if you include tomorrow.  Wednesday's storms packed straight-line winds in excess of hurricane force, prompting sirens to go off in the city and many suburbs.  Trees were downed, power was lost to close to a quarter million customers, and stretches of two major expressways were shut down due to flooding.  Travel by train or plane was next to impossible as well, with rampant delays and cancellations.  While there were several reports of funnel clouds, so far no confirmed tornadoes touched down.  The National Weather Service is actively investigating the damage at a few key locations where radar signatures screamed "rotation" to determine whether any brief touchdowns occurred.  The month is not even over yet, and already, the NWS has issued 82 severe t-storm and/or tornado warnings in our area. In all of last year... they only issued 109.  As yesterday's storms here have re-fired into damaging storms in the Northeast this afternoon, we enjoy high pressure, lower humidity, and plenty of sunshine.  But the weekend brings challenges again.  Heat and humidity will be on the rise and with it, the risk of storms on both days.  Saturday could feature a morning complex limping through mainly the northern burbs, followed by an afternoon eruption from the city south.  Sunday's storms look more ominous...especially late in the day or in the evening.  The Storm Prediction Center has us targeted for possible severe storms on Sunday, so be sure to watch Phil and Mark this weekend for the latest on that.

Mike

Tornado Watch

As expected, a Tornado Watch has been issued for the Chicago area until 9pm.  Large hail, damaging winds, torrential rainfall, and possible tornadoes can be expected as the storms rapidly develop and race in from the west. 

Tornado Watch Likely

Very high likelihood of a Tornado Watch in Chicagoland this afternoon.  Be prepared for rapidly-deteriorating conditions as these storms will have explosive development, and rapid forward movement.

Mike

One more round to go

This morning's rough weather is all but over, and now all meteorological eyes are focused on a cold front ot our west.  Wind damage this morning was mercifully limited.  Downed trees in Crystal Lake and a 65 mph gust registered in Olympia Fields were among the local highlights of the storm.  There was plenty of rain once again though, with parts of Lake and McHenry County getting more than 1" in less than an hour again.  Next up is what will be the final round of severe wether in this seemingly-endless series.  A cold front will be marching through Chicagoland late this afternoon and evening, and that should spark some pretty nasty storms once again.  Plenty of moisture, plenty of lift, and plenty of wind energy will be present to fuel the storms.  The one component yet in question, is that of insolation. If the residual clouds hang on longer from this morning's convection, there will be less time to heat up the surface with sunshine, which could otherwise heighten instability and lead to explosive thunderstorm development.  I still anticipate a Watch being issued for the Chicago area, so keep the tv tuned to ABC-7 for the very latest. 

Mike

No rest for the weather-weary

It sure seems like we've been under the stormy gun for the better part of a week now, and Mother Nature is not about to relax her gloomy grip soon. This "Ring of Fire" pattern promises more rounds of strong to severe storms between now and Wednesday night.  Often times, storms fire on the northern edge of significant heat waves... like the one gripping much of The South right now. As prevailing westerly winds usher those storm systems to the east, the pattern ends up looking like a parade of storms flaring then moving over the same areas several times in the span of a week.  Last night's storm, while not as widespread as last Friday's, were enough to inspire me to round up the family and move to the basement. We had 50 mph winds and some tiny hail at my home, and thankfully no damage.  While storms in this type of pattern are difficult to time, I think a good setup exists for an overnight storm cluster to roll into the area from the northwest.  This might be a Derecho, the term given to certain long-lived windstorms whose damage paths often stretch for several hundred miles. Tomorrow, yet another round of severe storms may form ahead of a "cold" front, which finally will end the storm threat for a couple of days.  Then it's on to the heat... perhaps the hottest of the year.  Highs on Saturday could poke into the mid 90s if all works out. Let's hope everyone's power is on by then, because you'll want that A/C cranked up.

Mike

SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 2010
After a severe round of storms overnight, Saturday promises to be much calmer. Power outages and downed trees were very common with last night's storms, but expect nothing like that for your Saturday. Today will be less humid with highs in the mid to upper 80s. Father's Day Sunday will be much cooler with highs near 80 and increased chances of showers. The elevated dew points return once again Monday with highs nearing 90 degrees by Tuesday. It also looks like the first half of the week could involve a chance of a shower every day. Thursday and Friday the chances of storms subside as highs in the mid 80s reign. Have a great weekend everyone! MARK BISHOP

Nasty storms coming

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for the ABC-7 viewing area until 7pm tonight. As opined earlier this week, today's heat and humidity are conspiring to produce a line of intense storms racing out of Iowa as of 12:30pm.  These storms will feed on the surface heating and instability here in Chicagoland and maintain their strength as a bowing line capable of producing winds in excess of 70 mph.  I wouldn't rule out a tornado, but the principal wind threat looks like straight-line damage at this point.  Stay tuned to ABC-7 for all the latest warnings, which should starting flying after 3pm.

Mike

Humidity has arrived... heat on the way

Today's dew point is flirting with 70 degrees.  That means if the air were cooled to 70, the air would be saturated and the relative humidity would be 100%. Enough meteorology 101... a dew point of 70 means it feels really muggy!  Now let's lift some of that juice higher into the atmosphere.  What happens next?  Storms... and maybe some strong to severe ones later this afternoon.  I wouldn't be too surprised to see a severe thunderstorm watch issued for the southern half of the area later today.  After that action winds down late tonight, the stage is set for a big warmup, peaking with 90+ on Friday.  Temperatures won't be too far from that Thursday throuigh Tuesday in fact, although a few cooling thunderstorms will be possible almost any afternoon or evening starting Friday. 

Mike