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Thursday's Welcomed Deluge
Sep 5, 2008 | 12:54 PM PST
Category:
Weather
.
September 90ºs in Chicago
Sep 2, 2008 | 9:31 PM PST
Category:
Weather
Chicago has Officially experienced it's Hottest Day of 2008 so far with a Maximum
Temperature of 94º recorded at 2:58pm. This makes the 2008 total number
of 90º & Higher days standing at only 6.
June 12: 91º
July 15: 90º
July 16: 90º
August 31: 90º
September 1: 90º
September 2: 94º
The Average Date of the Last 90º Day: August 29th
The Earliest Date of the Last 90º Day: July 1st, 1967
The Latest Date of the Last 90º Day: October 6th, 1963
Chicago may not have seen the last of a 90º temperature in 2008.
The following comparison examination reveals that a 90º temperature
is still possible even if Chicago may experience a Daily Maximum
Temperature of 75º or less.
50 Years 36% of the past 137 Years have recorded a Daily Maximum Temperature
of 75º or Less after September 1st and then went on to experience and 90º or Higher
Daily Maximum Temperature shortly thereafter.
9-3-1872: 74º 9-5: 91º 9-6: 93º
9-3-1887: 72º 9-6: 92º
9-3-1891: 59º 9-17: 90º 9-24: 91º
9-2-1893: 63º 9-4: 91º 9-14: 95º
9-7-1895: 65º 9-10: 91º 9-11: 92º 9-19: 91º
................................9-20: 91º 9-21: 90º 9-22: 90º
9-2-1897: 69º 9-8: 92º 9-9: 94º 9-10: 94º
................................9-14: 91º 9-15: 91º
9-7-1900: 70º 9-10: 90º
9-2-1908: 66º 9-9: 90º 9-10: 91º 9-11: 92º 9-18: 90º
9-3-1912: 74º 9-1: 93º 9-5: 94º 9-6: 94º 9-9: 91º 9-10: 93º
9-4-1913: 73º 9-1: 95º 9-2: 97º 9-7: 93º
9-5 & 9-11
1915: 70º 9-14: 90º
9-1 & 9-4
1919: 70º 9-6: 91º 9-7: 91º 9-8: 93º
9-2-1920: 66º 9-21: 90º 9-24: 90º
9-9-1924: 59º 9-21: 90º
9-13-1925: 67º 9-19: 91º
9-4-1927: 72º 9-12: 92º 9-13: 95º 9-14: 95º 9-15: 94º
9-6-1931: 71º 9-8: 90º 9-9: 91º 9-10: 94º 9-11: 91º 9-12: 90º
..............................9-13: 92º 9-16: 92º 9-20: 91º 9-21: 90º
9-14-1933: 61º 9-25: 90º
9-2 & 9-8
1935: 63º 9-18: 90º
9-2-1936: 69º 9-11: 91º 9-14: 91º 9-15: 90º
9-13 & 9-16
& 9-19-1937: 60º 9-22: 90º 9-23: 91º
9-5-1939: 69º 9-6: 90º 9-7: 100º 9-12: 94º 9-13: 98º 9-14: 99º 9-15: 99º
9-10-1940: 58º 9-20: 90º
9-3-1942: 70º 9-14: 90º
9-2-1945: 74º 9-5: 92º 9-6: 92º 9-7: 95º
9-1 & 9-2
1946: 71º 9-6: 91º
9-15-1947: 68º 9-18: 90º 9-19: 91º 9-20: 90º
9-8-1948: 71º 9-18: 90º 9-19: 92º
9-28-1951: 56º 10-4: 90º
9-7-1952: 67º 9-9: 90º 9-10: 93º 9-11: 95º 9-12: 96º 9-13: 94º 9-28: 90º
9-21-1953: 60º 9-28: 92º 9-29: 99º 10-2: 90º
9-22-1954: 66º 10-3: 91º
9-7-1955: 70º 9-9: 95º 9-15: 92º 9-16: 92º 9-17: 93º 9-18: 94º 9-19: 93º
9-19-1956: 59º 9-22: 92º
9-16-1959: 56º 9-20: 90º 9-22: 90º
9-5-1962: 64º 9-12: 93º 9-13: 94º
9-13-1963: 61º 9-18: 90º 9-19: 92º 10-6: 94º
9-1-1964: 71º 9-3: 93º 9-7: 94º 9-8: 93º 9-9: 94º 9-10: 94º
9-1-1968: 75º 9-3: 90º
9-14-1970: 59º 9-21: 92º
9-25-1971: 58º 9-27: 91º 9-30: 92º 10-1: 92º 10-2: 91º
9-16 & 17
1978.................75º 9-19: 90º 9-20: 90º
9-17-1980: 62º 9-20: 90º
9-5-1984: 69º 9-7: 90º
9-16-1986: 63º 9-22: 90º
9-5-1988: 64º 9-17: 90º
9-11-1991: 71º 9-14: 90º 9-15: 91º
9-5-1994: 65º 9-14: 90º 9-15: 91º
9-24-1998: 66º 9-26: 90º
9-15-2007: 61º 9-24º
72 Years 53% of the past 137 Years have experienced a 90º or Higher Daily Maximum Temperature on or after September 1st.
Labor Day Climate Study for 2008
Aug 29, 2008 | 11:30 PM PST
Category:
Weather
2008
Labor Day
Climate Study
Weather Almanac
Chicago
1894 - 2007
Highest Temperature: 97º 9-6-1954 (Average 77.7º)
Lowest Temperature: 44º 9-2-1946 & 9-5-1988 (Average 61.3º)
Lowest Maximum Temperature: 61º 9-2-1974
Highest Minimum Temperature: 75º 9-3-1973
Highest Rainfall: 1.49" 9-2-1912
41 36% Labor Day Holidays in Chicago of the past 114 experienced
Measurable Rainfall of 0.01" or Greater.
0.37" is the Average Rainfall for those 41 Days.
The Last Time Rain has fallen on a Labor Day: 9-4-2006 0.38"
The Number of Times the Respective Temperature Reached Into:
24 Hour Maximum Temperatures 24 Hour Minimum Temperatures
90ºs 8 7% 70ºs 10 9%
80ºs 43 38% 60ºs 60 53%
70ºs 46 40% 50ºs 40 35%
60ºs 17 15% 40ºs 4 3%
Totals: 114 100% Totals: 114 100%
Warmest Labor Days (24 Hour Temperatures)
97º 9-6-1954 91º 9-2-1929
96º 9-7-1959 90º 9-7-1970
95º 9-1-1913 89º 9-3-1956
95º 9-5-1983 88º 9-1-1947
94º 9-7-1964 88º 9-4-1995
93º 9-3-1973
Coolest Labor Days (24 Hour Temperatures)
44º 9-2-1946 51º 9-3-1984
44º 9-5-1988 52º 9-3-1928
46º 9-4-1972 52º 9-3-1945
48º 9-7-1914 52º 9-5-1966
50º 9-2-1974 52º 9-7-1981
50º 9-6-1993 53º 9-7-1953
Lowest Maximum Temperatures (24 Hour Values)
61º 9-2-1974 64º 9-5-1988
63º 9-4-1905 65º 9-5-1994
63º 9-2-1935 65º 9-1-2003
Highest Minimum Temperatures (24 Hour Values)
75º 9-3-1973 72º 9-1-1913
73º 9-7-1959 71º 9-2-1912
73º 9-7-1970 71º 9-5-1960
Rainiest Labor Days (24 Hour Values)
1.49" 9-2-1912 1.00" 9-7-1998
1.30" 9-2-1963 0.97" 9-1-1952
1.20" 9-5-1898 0.81" 9-7-1942
1.06" 9-5-1983 0.65" 9-3-2002
1.00" 9-7-1981 0.49" 9-1-1980
Smallest Single Day Temperature Difference
24 Hour Range Between Maximum & Minimum
3º 9-3-1917 68º 65º
4º 9-3-1906 70º 66º
4º 9-5-1921 72º 68º
4º 9-1-2003 65º 61º
6º 9-3-1900 71º 65º
6º 9-3-1923 74º 68º
6º 9-2-1935 63º 57º
7º 9-5-1994 65º 58º
8º 9-4-1905 63º 55º
8º 9-1-1919 70º 62º
Greatest Single Day Temperature Difference
24 Hour Range Between Maximum & Minimum
30º 9-1-1997 85º 55º
29º 9-5-2005 87º 58º
28º 9-3-1945 80º 52º
28º 9-6-1954 97º 69º
28º 9-6-1976 83º 55º
28º 9-1-1986 83º 55º
27º 9-2-1946 71º 44º
27º 9-5-1983 95º 68º
26º 9-7-1964 94º 68º
26º 9-4-1978 82º 56º
26º 9-2-1996 84º 58º
25º 9-3-1956 89º 64º
25º 9-4-1972 71º 46º
Hourly Occurrences of Rainfall (Trace or Greater)
for the Labor Day Holiday from 1950 - 2007
9-1-1952 0.97" 8:am - 3:pm Daytime
9-2-1957 Trace 1:pm Daytime
9-5-1960 Trace 3:am, 9:am Night & Daytime
9-4-1961 0.20" Midnite - 3:am, 2:pm - 4:pm Night & Daytime
9-3-1962 0.04" 1:pm - 3:pm Daytime
9-2-1963 1.30" 6:am - 11:am, 10:pm - Midnite Night & Daytime
9-7-1964 Trace 3:am Night
9-6-1965 Trace 7:pm Daytime
9-5-1966 Trace 11:pm Night
9-2-1968 0.02" 8:pm - 9:pm Night & Daytime
9-7-1970 0.04" 11:pm Night
9-6-1971 0.16" 2:am - 6:am, 5:pm Night & Daytime
9-3-1973 0.19" 6:pm 0 8:pm Daytime
9-2-1974 0.20" 1:am - 4:am, Noon - 5:pm Night & Daytime
9-1-1980 0.49" 1:am - 7:am, Noon - 1:pm Night & Daytime
9-7-1981 1.00" 3:pm - 7:pm Daytime
9-6-1982 0.11" 7:am - 2:pm, 5:pm, 10:pm - 11:pm Night & Daytime
9-5-1983 1.06" 7:am, 6:pm - Midnite Night & Daytime
9-7-1987 Trace 9:am, 3:pm - 8:pm Daytime
9-4-1989 0.13" 5:pm - 7:pm Daytime
9-7-1992 0.19" 10:am - 11:am, 11:pm - Midnite Night & Daytime
9-6-1993 0.24" 4:am - 7:am Night & Daytime
9-5-1994 0.29" 3:am - 7:am Night & Daytime
9-7-1998 1.00" 1:am - 3:am Night
9-4-2000 Trace 9:am - 10:am Daytime
9-3-2001 Trace 7:pm - 9:pm Night & Daytime
9-2-2002 0.65" 9:am - Noon Daytime
9-1-2003 0.32" Midnite - 5:pm Night & Daytime
9-6-2004 0.07" 10:am - 2:pm Daytime
9-4-2006 0.38" Midnite - 10:am, 1:pm - 3:pm, 6:pm - Midnite Night & Daytime
Here is what the Hourly Occurrence of Rainfall Examination above is telling us:
Rainfall has occurred on Labor Day Holidays
During Night Time Hours: 4 Times or 13%
Rainfall has occurred on Labor Day Holidays
During Daylight Hours: 11 Times or 37%
Rainfall has occurred on Labor Day Holidays
During Night & Daylight Hours: 15 Times or 50%
From 1950 - 2007 there have been 30 Labor Days experiencing Rainfall
of a Trace of Greater.
Study Period
1894 - 2007
Tropical Storm Gustav & Hanna
Aug 28, 2008 | 4:25 PM PST
Category:
Weather
Information Regarding Current Tropical Storm Systems Approaching the United States
Tropical Web Briefing for Thursday, August 28th 2008 (click)
My Fox Hurricane (Click)
Surface Sea Temperatures in Fahrenheit
This is a Web Briefing from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Jacksonville, Florida with the latest developments regarding Tropical Storm Fay...Click the link below to launch.
Tropical Storm Fay - NOAA Web Briefing
Latest Rainfall Totals
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
830 PM EDT FRI AUG 22 2008
TROPICAL STORM FAY PRODUCES RECORD FLOODING ACROSS PORTIONS OF
EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA...
BELOW ARE SOME SELECTED PRELIMINARY RAINFALL TOTALS FROM THE RECORD
RAINFALL EVENT ASSOCIATED WITH TROPICAL STORM FAY. THE STORM TOTAL
VALUES ARE MULTI-DAY ACCUMULATIONS...BEGINNING MONDAY AUGUST 18 WHEN
THE TROPICAL STORM WAS OVER THE FLORIDA STRAITS AND OUTER RAINBANDS
BEGAN TO ROTATE ONSHORE THE SOUTHERN PENINSULA.
MELBOURNE/WINDOVER FARMS: 26.65
CAPE CANAVERAL (USAF FIELD): 22.83
MELBOURNE 21.00
PALM SHORES: 20.75
INDIALANTIC: 17.40
MICCO: 15.10
National Air Show Chicago 1930
Aug 16, 2008 | 1:08 PM PST
Category:
Weather
This weekend marks the 50th anniversary of the Chicago Air & Water Show (1959-2008). However, Chicago was host to to a very notable Air Event long before 1959.
Beginning in 1920, a newspaper publisher by the name of Ralph Pulitzer (Pulitzer Prize) sponsored a trophy race for military airplanes in New York. These were a series of Pylon & Cross-County types of races which were considered to be both a proving ground as well as a public demonstration of the speed and reliability of modern aircraft. This first show turned out to be a huge success and became an annual event known as the National Air Races which took place every year from 1920 - 1949.
Every year there was something new added to the venue which eventually included Landing Contests, Glider Demonstrations, Airship Flights (Blimps) and Parachute Jump Contests.
In 1930, Chicago became host of the National Air Show for that year. The location was the Curtiss Air Field which later became known as the Glenview Naval Air Station.
During World War II, the National Air Show Races were placed on hiatus beginning in 1940 thru 1945. When the National Air Show Races resumed in 1946, they continued until 1949 when the show was held in Cleveland, Ohio and a pilot lost control of his P-51 airplane and crashed into a single family residence killing himself and two residents inside the home.
Here are the Climate Statistics for the 1930 National Air Show in Chicago
Date Maximum Temp Minimum Temp Rainfall
8-23-1930 Saturday 77º 66º 0.00"
8-24-1930 Sunday 79º 61º 0.00"
8-25-1930 Monday 79º 66º 0.00"
8-26-2008 Tuesday 84º 66º 0.00"
8-27-1930 Wednesday 90º 67º 0.00"
8-28-1930 Thursday 83º 69º 0.01"
8-29-1930 Friday 76º 68º Trace
8-30-1930 Saturday 79º 65º Trace
8-31-1930 Sunday 84º 71º Trace
9-1-1930 Monday 87º 69º 0.04"
Since this post is being drafted on Saturday, let us examine a Climate Map for the First Date of the 1930 Show which was also a Saturday. 
A balloon sits in a field at the National Air Show, held at Curtiss-Reynolds Airport. Two people stand near an automobile on the left, and on the right near the balloon is a sign near gas tanks that reads: "No Smoking". In the background there appears to be a crowd on a grandstand.
The 1930 National Air Races were moved to Chicago, IL. The site would be the the Curtiss-Reynolds Airport, race dates August 23rd to September 1st. The first Thompson Trophy Race would take place in Chicago.
1930 Poster
Aerial view of the Air Race site at Curtiss Field
Granville Bros. side by-side two seat biplane on display
1930 Race official describing the current event to the crowd.
After the embarrassing defeat of the Nation's finest pursuit ships in the 1929 races at Cleveland, the military was out for revenge. This time the Navy would attempt to put the civilian aircraft manufacturers in their place. This year was sure to be different!
The Navy had a plan; take the Curtiss Hawk Seaplane F6C-3 that won the 11th and final Curtiss Marine Trophy Race at Anacosta Navel Air Station on May 31st. and have Curtiss modify it to Navy Specifications.
The lower wing was removed and part of the upper wing was covered with coolant radiators. Seaplane floats were replaced with a set of streamlined landing gears with special wheel pants. The stock Curtiss D-12 engine was replaced with a 700hp supercharged Curtiss Conqueror with a new cowling.
The modified Hawk had a top speed potential of 250mph at it's best altitude and a projected average speed of 220mph in the race.
Jimmy Haizlap with the Shell Travel Air entry
The Travel Air R that won the Thompson Cup was now owned by Curtiss-Wright and was on tour for the Company. Several more Travel Air R’s were produced; one was purchased by the Shell Oil Co., the other by Texaco.
Lee Schoenhair, chief pilot of the B.F. Goodrich Company and second place winner of the 1929 cross-country race called "Matty" Laird president of the E.M. Laird Aircraft Company of Chicago and asked him to build a racer for the 1st Thompson Trophy Race. There was a little over three weeks time to complete the plane, but Laird agreed it could be done.
"Matty" Laird, "Speed" Holman and Lee Schoenhair standing (L-R) in front of the just completed racer. A last minute decision put "Speed" Holman in the pilot' seat due to his Laird racing experience.
Capt. Mcready crashed during one of the smaller cubic inch races. Miraculously, he escaped with only a broken nose.
U.S. Marine Corps fighters on display 
Starting line-up for the Thompson Trophy Race
Wiley Post"s Lockheed Vega would later become the Winnie Mae
The men's non-stop cross country derby ( Los Angeles to Chicago) attracted no less than four Lockheed Vega's and one air express.
1st place Wiley Post
2nd place Art Goebel
3rd place Lee Schoenhair
4th place William Brock
5th place Roscoe Turner (Air Express)
The Women's Class A Pacific Derby from Long Beach CA to Chicago IL
1st place Gladys O'Donnell in a Waco
2nd place Mildred Morgan in a Travel Air
3rd place Jean LaRene in a American Eagle
The Women's class B Dixie Race from Washington DC to Chicago IL
1st place Phoebe Omlie in a Monocoupe
2nd place Marty Bowman in a Fleet
3rd place Laura Ingalls in a DH Moth
WHEN TO WATCH: Tuesday morning, August 12, from about 1:00 am until morning twilight gets too bright.
August 12th & 13th are the Peak Dates...sightings are possible through August 25th however, the chances diminish after the August 13th.
WHERE TO LOOK: Looking East on Tuesday morning from 1:00 am until Sunrise. There is Good Sky Coverage to be expected so looking North East or South West is fine...Comb the Sky and just observe.
The Perseids are probably the most-watched annual meteor shower. The shower has a very long duration from July 15th through August 25th. The shower is most interesting around its peak on August 12th or 13th. This year, the peak comes on August 12th because of the leap year. The radiant is above the horizon the entire night for observers in the Northern Hemisphere, but it is fairly low at the end of evening twilight. Evening Perseid rates are fairly low, and the bright Moon makes things worse this year. The peak times of the show comes during the predawn hours when the Moon is down and the radiant is high.
Predawn rates for observers with truly dark skies may exceed 100 Perseids per hour with a nice sprinkling of sporadic and minor shower meteors added to the mix. Adjacent mornings from August 10th through August 13th are well worth watching, although rates will be significantly lower.
Perseids are fast meteors and tend to be fairly bright on average. An occasional fireball is seen. Below are examples of what to look for:
East Smithfield, PA Manitoba, Canada
Twentynine Palms, CA Longmont, Colorado
For a while the Moon will interfere with the Perseids, Lunar Glare may wipe out all but the brightest meteors. The situation reverses itself at 2 am on Tuesday morning, August 12th, when the Moon sets and leaves behind a Dark Sky for the Perseids. The shower will surge into the darkness, peppering the sky with dozens and perhaps hundreds of meteors until dawn.
Observing & Identifying Clouds
Aug 7, 2008 | 9:31 PM PST
Category:
Weather
Clouds and their many shapes have always been interesting to observe by just about everyone. Regardless if it is a good weather day during a Summer afternoon, a brisk morning in the Winter or a day which appears to have a severe storm approaching.
Clouds can offer a person more than merely a pleasant or concerning sight. Their specific shapes, sizes and even colors could provide a good indication of the current and existing conditions in the atmosphere above us and what may be approaching from the distant.
This post will help you identify and understand the many different Clouds you see.
Cloud Definitions
Cloud Top: the highest level in the atmosphere at which the air contains a perceptible quantity of cloud particles.
Cloud Base: the lowest level in the atmosphere at which the air contains a perceptible quantity of cloud particles.
Cloud Classification
Clouds are generally classified based opon Characteristics such as: Altitude, Appearance, or Origin. Altitude distinctions apply to those clouds that fit in various layers of the atmosphere as follows:
High Clouds: have bases above 18,000 feet
Middle Clouds: have bases between 7,000 and 18,000 feet
Low Clouds: have bases below 7,000 feet
Fog - Cloud: having contact with the ground
Multi-level Clouds: have vertically thick spanning multiple layers
Orographic Clouds: distinct clouds that form via interaction between wind and mountainous terrain features
In appearance, clouds may be thick or thin and be associated with fair weather or precipitation. Most clouds owe their existence to upward vertical motion of air, since they are often associated with weather producing events such as fronts, troughs, and low pressure systems.
Cloud Descriptions
High Clouds are primarily composed of Ice Crystals and include the following:
Cirrus are high altitude clouds. They are usually quite thin and often have a hair like or filament type of appearance. They have curled up ends are very common.
Cirrocumulus are high clouds that have a distinct patchy and-or wave like appearance.
Cirrostratus are high clouds that usually blanket the sky in sheets. These clouds are usually optically thin and the sun and moon can usually shine some light through them.
Middle Clouds have some similarities to certain high clouds. Since they are closer to a groundbased observer, the elements in particular Middle Clouds appear larger than their high cloud counterparts. They can contain ice crystals and-or water droplets and may occasionally be associated with some light precipitation.
Altocumulus have distinct cloud elements and are either in a patchy, scattered distribution or can appear in bands.
Altostratus have more of a uniform coverage in the sky where it is difficult to detect individual elements or features.
Low clouds are most often composed of water droplets however, they can have ice crystals in colder climates. Some of these clouds can develop into the multi-level clouds and can go through various phases, such as, a morning stratus deck turning into late morning stratocumulus, then early afternoon cumulus, and vertical development into cumulonimbus which can produce heavy rain and possible lightning and thunder.
Cumulus are usually puffy and often have very distinct edges and usually a noticeable vertical development. They often have a popcorn-like appearance. Cells can be rather isolated or they can be grouped together in clusters.
Stratocumulus can be widely scattered and have very little vertical development. These relatively flat clouds usually lack the sharp edges and "popcorn" appearance of most normal cumulus clouds.
Stratus are usually the lowest of the low clouds. Stratus often appear as an overcast deck but can be scattered. The individual cloud elements have very defined edges compared to most low cumuloform clouds.
Fog (yes a type of cloud) can be considered as a low stratus cloud in contact with the ground. When the fog cloud lifts, it usually becomes true stratus.
Multi-layer clouds are the heavy precipitation producers.
Nimbostratus are often referred to as low clouds however, they are typically considered multi-layer clouds because their vertical extent often goes well into the middle cloud region and these clouds often have even taller cumulonimbus clouds embedded within them. The clouds are very dark, usually overcast, and are associated with large areas of continuous precipitation. If it's a gray and rainy day, the sky most will most likely be filled with nimbostratus clouds.
Cumulonimbus are the clouds that can produce lightning, thunder, heavy rains, hail, strong winds, and tornadoes. They are the tallest of all clouds that can span all cloud layers and extend above 60,000 feet. They usually have large anvil-shaped tops which form because of the stronger winds at those higher levels of the atmosphere. Sometimes, strong cumulonimbus clouds can have appendages protruding from the base of the cloud, which are called Mammatus Clouds.
Mammatus Clouds because they resemble the mammary glands of mammals. They indicate that the atmosphere is quite unstable and can also be an indicator of impending severe weather.
Orographic clouds, as the name implies, are produced by the flow of air interacting with mountainous terrain.
Cap clouds form when air containing water vapor is uplifted on the windward slide of the slope and reaches saturation producing liquid water cloud droplets and a cloud which can Cap the Summit (the highest point of the cloud).
Lenticular clouds are lens-shaped clouds that can result from strong wind flow over rugged terrain. Sometimes they stack up like pancakes in multiple layers. They sometimes are very round and the edges are so well defined that they resemble flying saucers.
Contrails (short for condensation trails) are another type of cloud which can be formed from the vapor contained in the exhaust of a jet engine of an airplane when they are flying at high enough altitudes where cold temperatures cause the vapor to turn into ice crystals like cirrus clouds and look like lines in the sky.
Overshooting Cloud Tops This occurrence is typically found in Cumulonimbus Clouds and is associated with a developing strong thunderstorm. Where the Cloud fans out near the outer upper edges is known as the Anvil area. A strong updraft within the Cloud sometimes forms a bulge which resembles a Dome. This is known as an Overshooting Cloud Top.
Use the Chart (click here to enlarge) Below to Identify the Cloud Types Associated with the Names and Definitions Above 
A Simplified Cloud Type Chart Below for Quick Identification 
Below is a Nifty Science Experiment if you would like to Create a Cloud of Your Own (click here to Enlarge Chart)
Click This Link Directly for the Spanish Version of the Experiment 
Below is a Quick Reference Sky Altitude Chart 
The Two Links Below Are For The Following (Click Either One)
A Detailed Pictorial of Many Different Cloud Types Available in Beginner - Intermediate - Advanced - Click this Link
For Teachers - Instructions and a Printable Pattern for Students to Create their own Cloud Key for Identifying Clouds - Click this Link
Preceding Monday Evening's Tornado Outbreak in North-eastern Illinois and North-western Indiana was a High Wind Thunderstorm event on Monday morning at approximately 8:am which was moving from the West North West to the East South East over Lake Michigan.
These Surface Winds were in excess of 43 mph. The result of this significant strong wind occurrence was a very quick drop of Lake Michigan Water Levels recorded at the Calumet Harbor Lighthouse Climate Station.
Within a 1 Hour time frame during the 8:am hour the Lake Michigan Water Level at this location dropped from 579.2 feet to 576.3 feet and then rapidly increased in height to 579.5 feet. This was a 3 foot 2 inch change in water level within one hour.
High Resolution Radar Imagery as of 7:58am on Monday, August 4, 2008
NOAA Water Level Graph of Lake Michigan for August 4, 2008
Calumet Harbor Lighthouse Climate Station
A Comparison Study Examining 90º and Higher Daily Temperatures for the days Up To and Including July 31st of 2008 and then comparing the Same 90º and Higher Daily Temperatures for the period of August 1st and Beyond for each respective year (1871-2007) of Chicago's Official Climate Stations.
So far, up to and including the date of July 31st in this 2008 Calendar Year Chicago has Officially experienced 3 Days of 90º or Higher Temperatures: June 12 91º July 15 90º July 16 90º
Examination # 1
Using a Range of 5 Day Increments
0 - 5 90º Days thru 7/31 occurred in 40 past years produced an Average of 3 Additional 90ºs after August 1
6 -10 90º Days thru 7/31 occurring in 39 past years produced an Average of 6 Additional 90ºs after August 1
11-15 90º Days thru 7/31 occurring in 30 past years produced an Average of 5 Additional 90ºs after August 1
16-20 90º Days thru 7/31 occurring in 14 past years produced an Average of 10 Additional 90ºs after August 1
21-25 90º Days thru 7/31 occurring in 7 past years produced an Average of 12 Additional 90ºs after August 1
26-30 90º Days thru 7/31 occurring in 6 past years produced an Average of 7 Additional 90ºs after August 1
32 90º Days thru 7/31 occurring in 1 past year produced an Average of 15 Additional 90ºs after August 1
Examination # 2
A Summary of the number of Days which reached 90º & Higher up to July 31st.
The number of times (years) this had occurred in the past 137 years (1871 - 2007).
The percentage of times this occurred.
# of 90º+ Days Totals Years This Percentage
Up to July 31st has Occurred of Times
32 1 ½%
29 1 ½%
28 1 ½%
27 3 2%
26 1 ½%
23 4 3%
21 3 2%
19 4 3%
18 1 ½%
17 6 4%
16 3 2%
15 6 4%
14 4 3%
13 7 9%
12 3 2%
11 10 7%
10 3 2%
9 6 4%
8 4 3%
7 13 9%
6 13 9%
5 10 7%
4 9 7%
3 9 7% <-- 2008
2 4 3%
1 3 2%
0 5 3½%
Totals 137 100%
Examintation # 3
There are Two separate columns below. Each list the following:
1) The number of Days reaching 90º & Higher for each year up to July 31st.
2) The Exact Calendar Year for that respective line.
3) The number of Days reaching 90º & Higher for each year beginning with August 1st & after.
4) The Total number of 90º & Higher Days for that respective year.
# of 90º Days # of 90º Days Total 90º Days # of 90º Days # of 90º Days Total 90º Days
Up to July 31st Year From 8-1 After For that Year Up to July 31st Year From 8-1 After For that Year
32 1988 15 47 8 1951 3 11
29 1977 4 33 8 1984 12 20
28 1954 8 36 7 1887 4 11
27 1934 5 32 7 1890 2 9
27 1952 11 38 7 1892 2 9
27 1987 6 33 7 1898 7 14
26 1964 9 35 7 1900 11 18
23 1949 7 30 7 1922 9 16
23 1953 19 42 7 1927 4 11
23 1955 23 46 7 1937 8 15
23 1983 19 42 7 1961 9 16
21 1911 4 25 7 1965 3 10
21 1921 2 23 7 1982 1 8
21 1944 13 44 7 1985 5 12
19 1943 8 27 7 1989 1 8
19 1966 1 20 6 1876 1 7
19 1991 11 30 6 1879 1 7
18 2002 5 23 6 1893 3 9
17 1933 4 21 6 1897 6 12
17 1959 22 39
