Tammie Souza's Blog

My vacation took me to one of our least known and most beautiful National Parks.  THE APOSTLE ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK off the shores of Bayfield, Wisconsin on Lake Superior.

This is my second trip to Apostle Islands. The pristine beauty of the islands, serenity of Lake Superior and quaint rolling hills of Bayfield are a winning combination for both sports enthusiasts and those seeking relaxation.

Named after the biblical apostles, there are actually 21 main islands. Only one, Madeline Island, is inhabited. The other 20 are left as nature created them with  bears, deer, eagles, boars and mosquitos as residents. There are also historic lighthouses on several of the islands.

Many people kyack around the islands and some will even back pack and primitive camp on them. All camping requires permits..

The islands extend up to 40 miles out from Bayfield, Wisconsin. They have names like Sand, Otter, Rasberry, Outer, Devils, Bear, Eagle, York, Long, Rocky, Ironwood, Manitou, Hermit, Michigan,  South Twin, North Twin, Stockton, Gulf, Cat, Madeline, Basswood.

There are also some amazing sea caves on several of the islands and part of the mainland. These are created from colorful red sand stone. We boated through some of these caves and watched as kyackers explored the smaller caves. During the Winter Lake Superior freezes creating an ice wonderland. There are actually trips across the ice to see these sights.

My parents, husband Greg and me made the 8 hour drive from Chicago. We towed a small boat and stayed in a wonderful B & B named the Thimbleberry Inn. It sits on the shores of Lake Superior with a forest and rocky red cliffs. There are adrondack benches that sit on the cliffs and 76 steps which lead down to a dock and the waterline.

Sharon and Craig Locey own the Inn. They were wonderful hosts! Between their hospitality and amazing cooking, we were simply spoiled. We also met a guest from Germany and three very nice couples from Wisconsin. Some were there to relax and others were there to tackle all the outdoor sports that the islands offer.

We boated around exploring the islands during the day. Each evening we sat offshore sipping wine and watching the most colorful sunsets I've seen in years. We even tried our hand at fishing, but no luck on this trip. There are also numerous shipwrecks from the 1800s and early 1900s that are right off shore. Some are even above the waterline.

Below are a few pictures from that trip.  To see all of the pictures for what I described above just look to your right in My Photos. Click on View All Photos. 

I hope you enjoy them.
As always have a great weekend,   Tammie

Learn how to swim!

When at the beach:

• Whenever possible, swim at a lifeguard-protected beach.
• Never swim alone.
• Learn how to swim in the surf. It's not the same as swimming in a pool or lake.
• Be cautious at all times, especially when swimming at unguarded beaches. If in doubt, don’t go out.
• Obey all instructions and orders from lifeguards. Lifeguards are trained to identify potential hazards. Ask a lifeguard about the conditions before entering the water. This is part of their job.
• Stay at least 100 feet away from piers and jetties. Permanent rip currents often exist along side these structures.
• Consider using polarized sunglasses when at the beach. They will help you to spot signatures of rip currents by cutting down glare and reflected sunlight off the ocean’s surface.
• Pay especially close attention to children and elderly when at the beach. Even in shallow water, wave action can cause loss of footing.

If caught in a rip current:

• Remain calm to conserve energy and think clearly.
• Never fight against the current.
• Think of it like a treadmill that cannot be turned off, which you need to step to the side of.
• Swim out of the current in a direction following the shoreline. When out of the current, swim at an angle--away from the current--towards shore.
• If you are unable to swim out of the rip current, float or calmly tread water. When out of the current, swim towards shore.
• If you are still unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself by waving your arm and yelling for help.

If you see someone in trouble, don't become a victim too:

• Get help from a lifeguard.
• If a lifeguard is not available, have someone call 9-1-1.
• Throw the rip current victim something that floats--a lifejacket, a cooler, an inflatable ball.
• Yell instructions on how to escape.
• Remember, many people drown while trying to save someone else from a rip current.

It may have been the ride of a lifetime for me.

I was able to soar over Chicago in a WWll P-51 Mustang Fighter Plane and my photographer Stuart flew along side in the only fully restored B-24 Bomber in the world that flew bombing missions in WWll. I also met several WWll veterans that returned to see these magnificent planes as they traveled from airport to airport in Chicago.

The B-24 Liberator/Bomber,  The B-17 Flying Fortress/ Bomber and the P-51 Mustang Fighter Plane these are the planes you can see in the Wings of freedom tour. The tour is part of the Collings Foundation goal to keep our American history for generations to come. You can see the planes and climb aboard for a small fee. You can actually take a ride for a larger tax-deductible donation. All proceeds go directly toward maintaining the planes and the tour.

The experience was so amazing for me and others that I did a special report on the planes, my ride over lake Michigan (Including rolls) and a very special veteran from Crystal Lake. His name is Edward Barrett and he is one of thousands of young men just out of high school that enlisted and took to the skies in what I can only describe as cramped quarters and scary conditions. These young men won the war and so many of them sadly did not return.

Here is a link for information and locations of the tour

http://collingsfoundation.org/cf_schedules.htm<
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Below is a link to the special report I did. You can meet Edward Barrett and see me ride in the fighter plane.  In case you are wondering I did not loose my cookies :-) My Pilot Jimmy Rollison also happens to be a Fed-Ex pilot that donates his time flying the planes for the tour.

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail
;jsessionid=BCB2275DA1C8CBAAD9B24078D2E52952?contentId=
7068468&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1
.1.1&sflg=1

Enjoy the planes and as always have a fantastic week,

Tammie

WOW!  LOOK AT THIS SEICHE

Seiche is a French word that means "to sway back and forth". That is exactly what happens on Lake Michigan when strong storms push the water east.  Just like the water in a bath tub the lake water drops on the western shore here in Chicago and rises along the eastern shore. Then the water sloshes back toward the western shore causing a rapid and potentially dangerous rise in water levels.

The recent Seiche consisted of a two foot drop in the water along the shore followed by a fast rise of several feet later that night. All beaches were closed as a precaution.

In 1954 a monster 10 foot Seiche caught 8 fisherman off guard along Chicago's shoreline. Sadly all 8 were swept to their death.

Below you will see the dramatic video of the water dropping along Chicago's shoreline during the recent Seiche on Wednesday night July 2nd.

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/myfox/MyFox/pages/side
bar_video.jsp?contentId=6908026&version=1&locale=EN-US<
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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