Chicagoland Weather

[mattk]

Huge storms with tornadoes just passed from Elgin to Elmhurst to O'Hare Airport to Logan Square and Lake Michigan. A tornado must have passed just south of my house and expressway. We had funnel clouds over head and the sky got blood red.

Most horrifying storm of my life.

Hope everyone else is doing okay, especially at Wrigley Field where the CUBS game was in-play (reminds me of the ICHT episode about Chicago tornado, but not just as severe, thank God) and watch out Indiana and Michigan. We were fortunate to keep our power here, but it came close about 3-4 times to going out.

Cantore said that Chicago is under a "Possible Dangerous Situation" watch; something he said he's never seen in his 23 years at TWC. This must be a classification above a Tornado Watch because one wasn't issued for the area. We had a Severe T-Storm Watch out for the area before these storms blew through and now were under the "PDS" watch.

What upsets me is that TWC cared more about Eduardo near Galveston than the tornado here in Chicago. This happened for the 2nd time; the other being in early June. I bet you if this occured over Dallas, OKC, or K.C. TWC would be wall-to-wall coverage of it. But not Chicago. The local stations here didn't break in. NBC, ABC, CBS, and FOX are doing terrible in the ratings (all trail WGN in all dayparts by a VERY large margin) and this could have helped to put them over the top. I guess we're just not that important.

[Stephen]

What upsets me is that TWC cared more about Eduardo near Galveston than the tornado here in Chicago.

From what I've watch of Evening Edition in the past 20 minutes or so, they've been covering it pretty well.

[Gil]

Most horrifying storm of my life.

Not mine, but probably the second most horrifying. The sky was totally green here. The lightning was almost constant, and REALLY close too. Our power went out for about 5 minutes, the longest it's ever gone out, that I can remember.  It was absolutely insane.

[mattk]

Most horrifying storm of my life.

Not mine, but probably the second most horrifying. The sky was totally green here. The lightning was almost constant, and REALLY close too. Our power went out for about 5 minutes, the longest it's ever gone out, that I can remember.  It was absolutely insane.

That's the best way to describe it.

EE covered the storms better when they came closer to downtown Chicago. But before they came that close, every time I'd look to see an update, it was always put off and aired after the Eduardo segment. All I'm saying is that if this happened in DFW, OKC, KC, or ATL, they would be covering it ahead of Eduardo.

Damage was found in a path from the Kennedy Expy. to Cumberland Ave. and into Lincolnwood and Park Ridge. Other reports came from Logan Square and Humboldt. Possibly 2 seperate tornadoes or a funnel touching down at multiple points and then going back up into the cloud.

More storms rolling through as I type this. I need to sleep already!

[Concentric Eyewall]

I don't recall this being a PDS watch I've been tracking it on NWS, and there was no mention of PDS..

Actually, right when I turned TWC on, Cantore opened by saying "Eduoard has to be preempted to cover current dangerous Chicago storms"

[toxictwister00]

I don't recall this being a PDS watch I've been tracking it on NWS, and there was no mention of PDS..

Actually, right when I turned TWC on, Cantore opened by saying "Eduoard has to be preempted to cover current dangerous Chicago storms"

The Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued for Northern Indiana was a PDS watch because Jim also said out of the 23 years he's been at TWC he has never seen a PDS out for a Severe Thunderstorm Watch.

[Gil]

We got hail last night!!! First time in about 5 years! This was a lone cell that came hours later, not part of the tornadic system.

My weatherstation recorded over 2 Inches of rain yesterday!

[ilovemikebettes]

Hey,last night was scary for me too. The sky turned midnight black,and,winds were everywhere. Then,my power went out. I was watching TWC at the time. Then,power was restored. I am ok. A large tree branch was knocked down last night. Rain flooded the streets. Reminded me of August 23rd.

[NYCTWCjunkie]

On this New Year's Day, it is a typical late morning winter day in Chicago. Temperatures are in the 20s with some locations experiencing breezy conditions.

The big event today is the 2009 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic that will get underway at 1:00 PM Eastern Standard Time at Wrigley Field on Chicago's north side. The historic home of the Chicago Cubs hosts the second-ever outdoor National Hockey League game that is to be played in United States. The closest weather observation site to the stadium is ironically home to Major League Baseball's other team in the Windy City, and that would be the Chicago White Sox.

Chicago's 36-hour forecast information below is from Chicago Midway International Airport.


CHICAGO
Weather conditions from U.S. Cellular Field as of 10:50 AM Central Time

26°

mostly cloudy

Wind Chill: 16°
Visibility: 10 miles
Humidity: 59%
Dew Point: 13°
Wind: S at 9 MPH, gusting to 16 MPH
Barometric Pressure: 30.09 inches (falling)
Ceiling: 11,000 feet
Today's air quality forecast: Good



OTHER REGIONAL OBSERVATIONS...

Chicago Midway International Airport
26° mostly cloudy
Wind: S at 16 MPH
Wind Chill: 14°


Chicago O'Hare International Airport
24° overcast
Wind: S at 18 MPH, gusting to 26 MPH
Wind Chill: 10°
Today's forecast:  Mostly cloudy with scattered flurries. High near 36°.


West Chicago, IL
26° overcast and windy
Wind: S at 20 MPH, gusting to 30 MPH
Wind Chill: 12°
Today's forecast:  Mostly cloudy and windy with scattered flurries. High near 36°.


Gary, IN
26° mostly cloudy
Wind: S at 14 MPH, gusting to 25 MPH
Wind Chill: 14°
Today's forecast:  Mostly cloudy and windy with scattered flurries. High near 36°.


Wheeling, IL
24° overcast and windy
Wind: S at 22 MPH, gusting to 29 MPH
Wind Chill: 8°
Today's forecast:  Mostly cloudy. High near 35°.


Aurora, IL
25° overcast
Wind: S at 18 MPH, gusting to 26 MPH
Wind Chill: 12°
Today's forecast:  Mostly cloudy and windy with scattered flurries. High near 36°.


Waukegan, IL
24° sunny and windy
Wind: S at 21 MPH, gusting to 31 MPH
Wind Chill: 8°
Today's forecast:  Mostly cloudy and windy. High near 35°.


Orland Park, IL
26° mostly cloudy and windy
Wind: S at 25 MPH
Wind Chill: 11°
Today's forecast:  Partly cloudy and windy with a 20% chance of snow showers. High near 36°.


Rockford, IL
25° overcast and windy
Wind: S at 22 MPH, gusting to 28 MPH
Wind Chill: 10°
Today's forecast:  Overcast and windy. High near 34°.


Valparaiso, IN
23° overcast
Wind: S at 13 MPH, gusting to 22 MPH
Wind Chill: 10°
Today's forecast:  Mostly cloudy and windy. High near 36°.



36-HOUR FORECAST FOR CHICAGO (through Friday night)...
(courtesy of the National Weather Service)

TODAY
Mostly cloudy and windy with a 20% chance of snow showers after 12:00 PM. High near 36°.
South-southwest wind between 15 to 20 MPH.

TONIGHT
Overcast and windy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy. Low around 23°.
West-southwest wind between 15 to 20 MPH.

FRIDAY
Partly cloudy and windy. High near 32°. Northwest wind between 10 to 20 MPH.

FRIDAY NIGHT
Mostly cloudy. Low around 20°. North-northwest wind between 5 to 15 MPH.

[Concentric Eyewall]

Thanks for the forecast, Paul! 

[TWCC_DJK5555]

Flooding rains north of the city.

[TWCC_DJK5555]

Severe weather today.  An inch of rain fell in fifteen minutes.  80 mph winds caused serious damage in Chicago.  About 300,000 without power in Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, and round 2 is on its way.

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/article_20d4c868-7b28-11df-8376-001cc4c03286.html


Damage at Willis (Sears) Tower...
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/article_fa44a4fa-7b4c-517e-8730-dbad448e63b6.html

[Bryan]

Severe weather today.  An inch of rain fell in fifteen minutes.  80 mph winds caused serious damage in Chicago.  About 300,000 without power in Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, and round 2 is on its way.

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/article_20d4c868-7b28-11df-8376-001cc4c03286.html

Severe T-storm watch just north of me, but probably won't get this far south.  Round two might?

[Bryan]

Severe weather today.  An inch of rain fell in fifteen minutes.  80 mph winds caused serious damage in Chicago.  About 300,000 without power in Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, and round 2 is on its way.

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/article_20d4c868-7b28-11df-8376-001cc4c03286.html

Severe T-storm watch just north of me, but probably won't get this far south.  Round two might?

Round two came through my area.  What happened up there yesterday, Don? 

[TWCC_DJK5555]

Nearly 7 inches of rain this month.