How's that for click bait? 
On the off chance some of you have been in a cave for a few days. Iowa, Illinois and NW Indiana has had some interesting weather over the weekend. I don't have information for all three states, just NE Illinois where I live. Primarily Sunday thru Monday Evening. Some history on the Monday storm. This started organizing in central Iowa mid afternoon and was moving east. By the time it reached the Mississippi River it was officially considered a Derecho. To be considered a Derecho the wind damage swath must extend more than 240 miles and must include wind gusts of at least 58 miles per hour along its length. By the river it extended from southern WI into central Illinois and in spots was packing hurricane force winds. This type storm also has history of spawning tornadoes.
So how much fun was this weekends weather in NE Illinois where we live? Spoiler alert. We were fine. We were on the north edge of the storm. We actually never got more than just a normal July thunder shower Monday evening. Just a little wind. Had it not been for all the warnings about the approaching weather, we wouldn't have known anything was happening till after it was over.
The NWS confirmed 11 tornadoes touched down in the Chicago area Monday, two were in the city of Chicago. Another 6 tornadoes touched down Sunday night. To my knowledge they were all either EF0 or EF1 tornadoes. Not on the ground long. Caused minimal damage. Unfortunately, there was one fatality in NW Indiana from a tree falling on her house. Most likely from straight line wind. The confirmed tornado was about 10 miles away.
Watching local weather Monday night to keep track of watches and warnings so we'd know if and when it was time to tuck tail and get in the safe place, the weather team said that all nine counties that are considered NE Illinois was in a tornado warning. Weather guy on another channel commented he'd been covering weather for 40 years and had never seen anything like what was happening.
Conditions were perfect for a Midwest super storm. High humidity. Hot.... 90s. Lots of sun to cook that humid air and a big cold front running into it from the west.
Today. Blue sky. Sun. More comfortable temps. Lower humidity (by Illinois standards). Gonna be this way for several days.
So how much fun was this weekends weather in NE Illinois where we live? Spoiler alert. We were fine. We were on the north edge of the storm. We actually never got more than just a normal July thunder shower Monday evening. Just a little wind. Had it not been for all the warnings about the approaching weather, we wouldn't have known anything was happening till after it was over.
The NWS confirmed 11 tornadoes touched down in the Chicago area Monday, two were in the city of Chicago. Another 6 tornadoes touched down Sunday night. To my knowledge they were all either EF0 or EF1 tornadoes. Not on the ground long. Caused minimal damage. Unfortunately, there was one fatality in NW Indiana from a tree falling on her house. Most likely from straight line wind. The confirmed tornado was about 10 miles away.
Watching local weather Monday night to keep track of watches and warnings so we'd know if and when it was time to tuck tail and get in the safe place, the weather team said that all nine counties that are considered NE Illinois was in a tornado warning. Weather guy on another channel commented he'd been covering weather for 40 years and had never seen anything like what was happening.
Conditions were perfect for a Midwest super storm. High humidity. Hot.... 90s. Lots of sun to cook that humid air and a big cold front running into it from the west.
Today. Blue sky. Sun. More comfortable temps. Lower humidity (by Illinois standards). Gonna be this way for several days.
