Record Rainfall

Thursday nights rainfall totals

Yesterday's storm system that produced heavy rain and storms also helped to produced record rains in Chicago and Rockford. A record daily maximum of 1.95" fell yesterday in Chicago breaking the old record of 0.92" set back in 1899. Rockford recieved the same type of recrod with 1.31" falling breaking the old record of 0.82" that fell back in 1912.

*Record rain 2.26.09*

Chicago-O'Hare, IL

New Record: 1.95" 2009

Old Record: 0.92" 1899

Rockford, IL

New Record: 1.31" 2009

Old Record: 0.82" 1912

We sit currently at 4.55" for the year (down 0.57" from this time last year). Since Dec. 1 2008 we are at 10.32". Last year 8.81" (1.23" more than 2008).

Temps. dive Thursday followed by BIG SNOW potential this weekend

After enjoying above seasonable temperatures that included a high of 61 a week ago, the weather pattern is once again changing and is trending for colder weather Thursday and Friday in particular. Readings will make it only in the teens and 20s with single digit wind chills the next couple of days. Ahead of this cold air is a clipper system that brought us a light dusting of snow. A trough which is expected to intensify Friday into Saturday will move from Canada starting tomorrow. A low pressure system will track to our south and early indications are showing that this could produce a significant snow accumulation by Saturday. All of the ingredients so far are in place for this to happen. As the low tracks to the east, this will set up for northeast winds off the lake and with the cold air over warm lake waters, there could be additional lake enhanced snow from this. Below are a few graphics to look at.

Our first severe weather outbreak of 2009

Well our first severe weather of the season is here. Below are some maps.







So far we only have 3 tornado reports. One that touched down in Oklahoma city. There have been 45 hail reports the largest being baseball size (2.75" in diameter).