Tom Skilling weather

Wintry weather to tangle with evening rush hour

Winter is off and running! The pattern of regular cold surges -- punctuated by brief temperature rebounds such as the one in progress as Wednesday dawns -- is to continue beyond mid-month. As if on cue, December's arrival initiated a parade of wintry weather systems across the Chicago area. The second such weather system -- armed with 6 to 8 hours of mixed precipitation and likely to reach the city shortly after midday -- threatens to have some impact on the afternoon and evening rush hour. This is not the huge, moisture-endowed system that hammered the area Sunday and Monday. Computer models late Tuesday were even beginning to suggest its heaviest precipitation is to target Wisconsin more directly than the Chicago area. But the disturbance buried Glacier County, Montana, with up to 9.3 inches of snow Tuesday. Precipitation totals are to be far less dramatic here. In fact, precipitation is likely to begin in an above-freezing environment and is to start as rain or a rain/sleet mix. The air should cool expeditiously with the onset of precipitation, switching to sleet and snow. A final period of snow is to occur as the disturbance exits the area early Wednesday. The best estimate is that 1 to 2 inches of snow may accumulate.

--Tom Skilling, Chief Meteorologist, WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune

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Chicago to shiver in season's coldest day to date; cold blasts keep coming

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What is the smallest range of temperatures in a single day in Chicago?

Dear Tom,
What is the smallest range of temperatures in a single day in Chicago?
Frank Fleming, Chicago

Dear Frank,
Chicago's weather is always in a state of flux and rarely do temperatures hover at
exactly the same value for more than two or three hours. That's the reality we live with.

On very rare occasions, though, when the progression of weather systems across the
Midwest has greatly slowed and Chicago finds itself with high humidity, a foggy and
densely overcast sky and practically no wind, the temperature can remain stationary.

The answer to your question is, surprisingly, zero degrees of temperature change.
Chicago's temperature sat at 35 degrees for a record 30 hours from 9 p.m., Feb. 5,
1942, through Feb. 6, to 3 a.m. on the 7th. It happened on two other days as well,
though not for 30 hours: March 24, 1891 (32 degrees) and March 13, 1878 (44 degrees).

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Snow scenes this morning from north suburban Deerfield, Illinois

Nick Liveris shares this photo of the snowy world to which north suburban Deerfield
residents rose Tuesday morning. Great shots, Nick! Many thanks!

Tom Skilling

Photos courtesy of Nick Liveris, Chicago, Illinois

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Before the Forecast 12-02

Thanks for joining us for this Tuesday's edition of Before the Forecast! Unfortunately we are experiencing some technical difficulties. Tonight's video should be up shortly, so keep checking in. As always, tune in tonight at 9 to see the most pressing weather news with Tom Skilling.

For complete weather information, tune in to WGN News at 9pm and wgntv.com for Tom Skilling's Full and 7-day forecasts.

Tune in tomorrow for another edition of Before the Forecast, and as always continue
to watch WGN for more coverage: Morning, Noon & Nine.

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Snow whitens the Scottish landscape

An accumulation of snow has come to Scotland! These shots from the UK come to us from
Mark Vogan. Thanks Mark!!

Tom Skilling

Photos courtesy of Mark Vogan, Glasgow, Scotland

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Beautiful shots of Monday’s snow in Whiting, Indiana

Thanks to Carolyn Szepanski for sharing these shots of Monday’s snow accumulation in
Whiting, Indiana. Great job, Carolyn!

Tom Skilling

Photos courtesy of Carolyn Szepanski, Whiting, Indiana

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Strong winds to buoy Chicago temperatures

Southwest winds that take hold this afternoon are to boost thermometer readings. The problem is winds effectively cancel temperature increases by lowering wind chills. The breezes -- 30 m.p.h. at times by late Tuesday -- are likely to all but eliminate the normal overnight decline of temperatures. But, the cold air these winds attempt to displace is denser than the mild air they carry. This forces much of the warmer air up and over the cool air mass. Initially only mid- and high-level clouds are to result from this process. But as Gulf and Pacific moisture reaches the area Wednesday, clouds thicken and ice pellets (sleet) or a sleet-rain mixture will develop, possibly transitioning to snow late Wednesday. There's enough moisture to suggest slippery travel conditions may develop.
A succession of precipitation-producing systems the next 2 weeks, each followed by cold air, is producing generous computer snowfall estimates ranging from 9 inches to as much as 21 inches over the period.

STORM COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE HERE
Had more of Sunday's copious liquid precipitation fallen as snow, Chicago could have been buried by 7 to 11 inches of snow.
--Tom Skilling, Chief Meteorologist, WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune

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Thursday/Friday arctic blast; models generate big 2-week snow tallies here

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Snow measurement accuracy

Dear Tom,
As I look out at [Sunday's] snowfall, I noted that most of it melted as soon as it hit the
ground. How does weather observer Frank Wachowski measure the snowfall with any
accuracy?

William J Hopkinson, Maywood

Dear William,

Snow depth measurements are based strictly on accumulated snowfall. When falling
snow melts upon contact with the ground, snow depth is reported as "Trace -- melted
as it fell" and, if no measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) occurs during the calendar day,
a trace of snow enters the record books for that day.

Snow accumulation is measured on a designated surface, usually a snow board -- a
slab of wood, painted white, and placed where snow accumulation is representative of
the area. The water content of the snow (and all frozen precipitation such as sleet and
hail) is also measured and recorded.

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Before the Forecast 12/1

Thanks for joining us for this Monday edition of Before the Forecast! After Chicago saw its first snowstorm of the season, there were some respectful totals across the area. Downers Grove saw the most snow with 5.7 inches, while O'Hare Airport had 3 inches. As this same weather pattern continues, we could be in store for some more snow over the week. Tom Skilling has all the details on Tonight's BTF. Thanks to our weather intern Eric Szos, for helping us out with tonight's video.

For complete weather information, tune in to WGN News at 9pm and wgntv.com for Tom Skilling's Full and 7-day forecasts.

Tune in tomorrow for another edition of Before the Forecast, and as always continue
to watch WGN for more coverage: Morning, Noon & Nine.

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Chicago snow at Wacker and Randolph

More pictures from Brandi Wall taken around lunchtime Monday at Wacker and Randolph.

THANKS Brandi!!

Tom Skilling

Photo courtesy: Brandi Wall

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The sun rises looking from Evanston out over Lake Michigan this past Thursday

Kris Bochenek captured this sunrise this past Thursday 11/27/2008) from the Evanston
lakeshore near Dempster and Sheridan. It’s Kris’ favorite location for sunrise
photography—and we can see why! This is a beautiful shot! Thanks Kris!!

Tom Skilling

Photo courtesy of Kris Bochenek, Evanston, Illinois

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"Winder wonderland" Monday

Arlington Heights is among the areas which takes on the appearance of a winter
wonderland in the Sunday/Monday snow

Our friend Curt Renz forwards us this beautiful photo taken around 2:50 p.m. of
Monday's (12/1) snow at North School Park in Arlington Heights. THANKS Curt! Your
photos are always great!

Tom Skilling

Photo courtesy of Curt Renz, Arlington Heights, Illinois

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Winter in the city after the season's first significant snow accumulation

Check out these beautiful photos taken in the city in the midst of our first significant
snow of the season and submitted to us by Brandi Wall. Wonderful shots, Brandi—THANK
YOU for sharing them with us!

Tom Skilling

Photos courtesy of Brandi Wall, Chicago, Illinois

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