While our skies today have been bright and blue and as clear as anything we’ve seen so far this fall, a potent storm system centered in Tennessee is producing some wet snow, soaking rains, and strong, gusty winds across much of the eastern half of the country.  This is the storm system we were watching a week ago as possibly bringing us snow before it became clear that it would stay to our east instead.  Speaking of snow, there is some of that falling from this storm system, but it’s way to our south and affecting some locations that don’t normally see November snow like Memphis, Tennessee and Paducah, Kentucky where several inches have been measured today.  Earlier this morning Paducah experienced thundersnow and in a quick burst of heavy snow, 8 inches fell at the National Weather Service office.  It’s strange to think that even the mid South has now registered more snowfall than Rochester or most of our viewing area this season!  Strong winds and some soaking rain showers are going on on the northern side of the storm system and Chicago has actually measured winds greater than 60mph off of Lake Michigan today, creating waves of 19 feet at times and quite an impressive storm surge.  Here’s a video of that storm surge in Chicago from this morning:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36xKqdKssw0

An impressive storm sytem way to our southeast is producing some nasty weather for a large part of the country while we enjoy some bright sunshine.

Winter Weather Advisories have been posted for parts of Indiana and southern Michigan for tonight as three or four inches of snow is expected there by tomorrow morning.  That storm system is expected to then move northeastward into eastern Canada tomorrow afternoon.

Posted under winter weather

I was digging around on YouTube to see if I could find any good footage from the bow echo that roared through Chicago on Monday evening. CNN had plenty of good pictures and video from eyewitnesses too.  It was a doozy of a storm and sparked tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings for that area. There were reports of tornadoes on the ground northwest of downtown Chicago, and numerous reports of damaging, destructive winds and large hail (see graphic below).

What I actually came across most was footage from people who had been at the Cubs baseball game – ongoing when the storm came through. This could have been disaster had there actually been a tornado that struck the stadium with that many people there. Not only that, but for people that chose to stand outside during it, we could have been talking tonight about fatalities from lightning strikes or being struck by debris. Even by seeking shelter inside the stadium, between those concrete walls, you’re still running the risk of a major catastrophe. It was nearly a worst nightmare come true, and it begs the question – what do you do with thousands upon thousands of people when such a severe storm comes through? Luckily…no one was hurt.

On a lighter note, get ready for comfy days and cool nights ahead. No stormy weather in sight, with the exception on an isolated thunderstorm tomorrow afternoon.

Posted under KTTC, Natural Disaster, severe weather, weather