Tammie Souza's Blog

Wednesday June 25th I'm off to Denver for the annual AMS (American Meteorological Society) Broadcast Meteorology Convention.

I know it may sound like a total "Weather Geek" fest, and it is, but I'm looking forward to visiting with colleagues from other cities and exchanging ideas. There's always something new in the world of weather. New technology, new information, new ideas.

I am also on the board of broadcast meteorology and that means a few extra duties while I'm there. One of my duties is evaluating the tapes of fellow meteorologists applying for their AMS or CBM Seal of approval. I do this year round.

When a meteorologist applies for their seal they must have already worked in weather for a number of years. They must meet rigid educational requirements plus take an in-depth test about the weather and the atmosphere. The final phase is the evaluation of their on air work. It's three consecutive days of weather casts from actual newscasts on television. The applicants send tapes and DVDs to the panel I am on.

Broadcast Meteorologists across the nation have so many different styles. It's enjoyable to watch their submitted work. I always try to balance my critiques with positive and constructive notes. Many times a meteorologist will have to submit for an evaluation 2 or 3 times before finally passing and receiving that all important seal. 

The entire seal process can take more than a year.

I also am on the NWA (National Weather Association) Board of Broadcast Meteorology and evaluate applicants for the NWA seal of approval. This requires the same type of application process.

So, the next time you watch a meteorologist with that AMS or CBM or NWA seal next to their name you'll know they have completed a very lengthy and difficult process to prove they are qualified as a Broadcast Meteorologist and qualified to deliver a forecast to you.

In case you are wondering, all of us here at FOX Chicago have been awarded one or more of those all important CBM / AMS / NWA seals.

See you back here on Monday.

As always have a great week!

Tammie

BLAH, BLAH, BLAH BLOGS.....BUT NOT THIS ONE !!!

HOLY COW LOOK AT THIS !!!

A storm chaser in Iowa captured this tornadic super cell storm. If you see this type of cloud there is DANGEROUS WEATHER very nearby.

The link below will take you to the blog at Weather Team 4, our sister station in Kansas City, Missouri. The meteorologists there created a Weather Blog like ours where you can read about this storm and watch AMAZING VIDEO of this storm being chased.

http://community.myfoxkc.com/blogs/wxteam4

Join us here at the Fox Chicago Weather Blog for future cool links to our sister stations.

As always have a great week,

Tammie Souza

Time to cool down and dry off!

After more than a week of well above average temperatures, rain and severe weather we now head in the opposite direction for the week ahead.

Good news for all of us needing to dry out and for those of us that don't like the humidity and heat.

Starting Monday enjoy lower to mid 70s for the work week with plenty of sunshine and little or no chance of showers. In case you are wondering the average high this time of year is 80 degrees.

As always have a great week,

Tammie

THUS FAR THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS DETERMINED THAT 8 TORNADOES TOUCHED DOWN IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS ON SATURDAY JUNE 7TH.

THERE MAY BE MORE STILL TO COME.  KEEP IT HERE ON THE BLOGS AND WE'LL KEEP YOU UPDATED.

THE LINK TO THE LATEST REPORT INCLUDING THAT 8TH TORNADO IS BELOW.

AS ALWAYS HAVE A GREAT WEEK,

TAMMIE

LINK TO TORNADO PATHS AND DAMAGE DESCRIPTIONS:

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/crnews/display_story.php?wf
o=lot&storyid=15234&source=0

June 7th was a windy, warm, humid day with ripe conditions for severe weather.

We were not dissappointed.

Below is an overview of that evening.

Our news team extends a warm thank you to you the viewers for so many great tips and photos. You helped get the word out.

Also, many thanks to the Will County Department of Emergency Management and Sherrif Paul Kaupas along with Deputy Rando Simeon for the loan of the first aerial video of the Green Garden damage and the overturned trucks on Route 57.

That video was exclusive to FOX news on Saturday night. We were the first to report on much of the damage in Will County.

Now for the storms.:  There were several large super cell storms that produced tornadoes in the Chicago area.

One small and brief tornado near Mundelein in Lake County, Illinois and a larger more destructive tornado that skipped through LaSalle, Grundy, Will and Cook Counties in Illinois plus Lake County in Indiana.

This tornado was reportedly 1/2 mile wide at times and caused damage to both rural and populated areas.

The final damage reports are still filtering in, but it appears Will County and Southern Cook County felt the brunt of it.

I storm chased through the afternoon and evening hours. The tornado was rain wrapped much of the time and several times I saw secondary funnels trying to form.

East Wilmington, Braidwood, University Park, monee, Frankfort, Green Gardens, Richton Park are the main areas of destruction.

Becuase this tornado went through numerous cycles of weakening and re-strengthening it was not on the ground much of the time. It hoved most of the time.

I saw tree limbs, chunks of metal and roof pieces raining down on Hwy 30, I-80, The Tri-State and many side streets. However the damage could have been so much worse had this twister stayed on the ground.

Thankfully there were no deaths or major injuries. Power may be out in some areas for several days because numerous power lines were downed as the storm passed by.

Here's one surprise....little or no hail reported. Many times large hail will be reported in a storm like this. 

If you have any information or a story to share about the tornadoes on June 7th please share it here or upload photos at this web site on the Weather page. You can alsway call our news desk with storm reports or e-mail them to news@foxchicago.com.

As always have a good week. I'm on vacation until June 16th. I'll see you then,

Tammie

Busy Weather Pattern This Week.

After a dissmal Spring we are now in the throes of severe weather. Last Friday saw severe storms on the city's southside and today we are looking at potentially strong storms, especially south of the city.

We need your eyes and ears!

If you experience severe weather or have any severe weather reports and pictures please share them with us at Fox Chicago. You can call our assignment desk at (312)565-5533 or e-mail the desk at news@foxchicago.com. I would love to hear from you as well at tammie.souza@foxtv.com.

By week's end we could once again see severe weather.

At least we've warmed up with plenty of 80s this week.

As always have a great week,

Tammie

Saturday is the last day of May and it marks the last day of Meteorological Spring.

The official end of Spring and start of Summer in Chicago is June 20th at 6:00 PM CDT.

Either way Spring will end with a bang. Friday and Saturday, the final two days of May, could be stormy and warmer than average. So far this May has been a cooler and wetter month than normal courtesy of a deteorating La Nina pattern.

Many of you have e-mailed with one simple question...."WHEN WILL WE WARM UP"?

It looks like by mid-June we will get back to a more normal summer pattern.

One positive note about our dreary Spring of 2008.......we have had less severe weather than usual.  Unfortunately our neighboring states to the west and south are headed toward a record year for tornadoes and tornado deaths.

So let's get ready to celebrate Summer. It begins in 23 days.

If you have any special Summer plans share them with us here.

As always have a great week.

Tammie

Sorry Moms, your very special day will be a wet, windy and chilly one.

It seems more years than not we see blustery conditions on Mother's Day.

1-2" of heavy rain is possible on Sunday morning and the winds will gust between 20 and 30 mph.

It's simply a perfect day for indoor pampering.

There are also some very important activities on Mother's Day:

If you are attending the Y-Me Race for Empowerment along the Lakefront carry the rain poncho and focus on the good that will come from your unselfish gift of time. Those suffering or that have suffered from breast cancer appreciate your efforts.

If you're attending the Cubs game be prepared for rain delays.

As always have a great weekend and stay safe and dry.

Tammie

On Sunday April 27th we aired a special half hour broadcast titled "Surviving Severe Weather". 

All 4 of us on the FOX Chicago Weather Team contributed reports revolving around personal stories, tips on how to stay safe in sports stadiums, staying safe on the water, what to prepare at home and a look at the effect of a large tornado in downtown Chicago.

If you missed the special never fear it's now available right here on our website at the link below.

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail
;jsessionid=FBE7D84798EA7CBF7B441FD45007A2CC?contentId=
6419335&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1
.1.1&sflg=1

Share your safety tips and thoughts about severe weather and what you think of the half hour special right here on the blog.

As always have a great week,

Tammie

This afternoon and evening we may see some severe storms crossing the Chicago area. Out biggest threat today will be large hail and strong winds.

Now that we are in the midst of severe weather season this may be a good chance for you to review your own personal severe weather plans.

To help you with that we have created a half hour special titled "SURVIVING SEVERE WEATHER".  It will air Sunday April 27th at 5:00 PM (After NASCAR) on Fox Chicago.

All four of members of our weather team have contributed special reports and personal insight. So, please join us Sunday for this in depth look at severe weather in Chicago.

As always we will keep you updated on here on line and on television if any weather does turn severe.

Have a great weekend,

Tammie

Today is the anniversary of Chicago's worst tornado outbreak.

April 21, 1967 there were 19 tornadoes that struck Illinois. Most of which were in Northern Illinois and the Chicago area.

At least 4 of those twisters were F-4 rated and the death toll was tragic.

58 people died. Most of those deaths took place in Oak Lawn and Belvidere.

There were more than 1000 injuries.  The damages exceeded $56 million dollars in 1967.

Today should be much more quiet and uneventful than that day 41 years ago. 

As always have a good week,

Tammie

This week will signal a big shift in our weather pattern.

Many of you have conveyed to me the following three words through e-mail...."IT'S ABOUT TIME".

After a dissmal weekend with clouds, rain and even light snow we will break into a long stretch of Spring weather.

Monday will usher in sunshine and upper 40s to low 50s.

Tuesday will feature sun and upper 50s to low 60s.

Wednesday is one of my two pick days this week. Sun and upper 60s.

Thursday is my other pick day and has increasing clouds with highs in the upper 60s and low 70s. Rain and thunderstorms at night.

Friday has some rain and the 60s.

We will start to see the trees and plants begining to push their leaves out by the end of the week. I cant wait !

Next weekend I will make the yearly trek to by annual flowers and get my hanging baskets planted. My baby vegetable plants will transplanted. (Note to husband) Perhaps the lawn mower blade should be sharpened in anticipation of that first mowing. Yes, I share the mowing duties with him, just not the blade sharpening.

I realize we could still see a night or two of overnight freezing temperatures right up to Mother's Day in May, but I'll have some sheets handy to cover the new plants if that happens.

I just don't want to put off Spring any longer. I'm ready. i think all of Chicago is ready.

How about all of you. What will you do in the glorious weather ahead? Share it here on the blog.

As always have a great week,

Tammie

Last weekend was picture perfect. It almost seemed that Old Man Winter had left town for good. Now we know it was only an illusion.

Yes, this weekend will be blustery, mostly gray, chilly and feature periods of rain showers with wet snow mixing in, Brrrrrrrrrrrrr !

Indoor activities are recommended. What are your plans? Share them here on the blog.

Last year April 1st - 3rd was quite warm in the 60s and 70s. Then the 4th-14th was chilly in the 30s, 40s and low 50s. However, by the 15th we started to warm up and on the 17th we hit 70 degrees.

So far our current April has been warmer than last April to date.

And just hang on because we are also going to see near 70 degrees by the middle of next week.

As always have a great weekend,

Tammie

What a great weekend! Can we have more?

Both Saturday and Sunday were in the lower 60s and we enjoyed plenty of sunshine.

What did all of you do? Share it here on the blog.

I basked in the sun, my husband fertilized the lawn and we raked the planters. My dog was thrilled when we went for a log run and the birds were everywhere searchig for worms in the soft dirt. I also noticed a large influx in the motorcycle traffic.

It was a long, hard Winter as compared to the past 25 years.  We didn't see many 50s or 60s this Winter or Spring. In fact the warmest day since the 66 degrees on November 12 was on January 7th when we hit 65 degrees.

As we look at the week ahead (7th-11th) temperatures will hover either side of normal, which is 55 degrees, unfortunately  those 60s will be elusive.

We will also see a very active Spring pattern including a chance of thunderstorms at some point each day Tuesdy-Friday. Good idea to keep the rain gear in the car or backpack.

Still, no matter how you look at it we are past the worst and Winter has wound down. Now it's onward and upward through Spring.

Have a great week,

Tammie Souza

The date of Easter changes every year. Sometimes it's in March and other times in April.

So, just how is the official date chosen?

Well, there's a special formula.

Easter is always on the first Sunday after the first full moon that occurs after the start of Spring (Vernal Equinox). The start of Spring falls between March 19th and March 22nd.

This year Spring begins on Thursday March 20th at 12:58 AM.  The first full moon after the start of Spring is on Friday March 21st and so Easter is on Sunday March 23rd.

By the way, the earliest date that Easter can be is March 22nd and the latest date is April 25th.

Next year Easter will fall on April 12th, 2009 and in 2010 it will be on April 4th.

As always have a great week and a happy, safe Easter.

Tammie