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2013 is a special year for Chief Meteorologist Eric Sorensen as he celebrates working at WREX for a decade! From 1999-2003 he worked as a Meteorologist in East Texas at KTRE and KLTV. Eric was born and raised in Rockford, attending St. Edward's Grade School, Boylan High School, and Northern Illinois University. In June 2008 he received the prestigious Silver Dome Award for 'Best TV weathercast' from the Illinois Broadcasters Association. His parents live in Belvidere and are viewers every night. He has an older brother who lives in the western suburbs and a sister in Southern Wisconsin. He's happy to share his Rockford home with the official 13News Weather Lab (a 12 year old black lab named Theo).
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Meteorologist Greg Bobos comes to Rockford via WYIN in Merrillville, Indiana. He is a graduate of Indiana University and had internships at WLS-TV in Chicago and WRTV in Indianapolis. He is originally from Dyer, Indiana.
Greg didn't always know weather was the job for him. "I grew up wanting to be an astronaut because I was fascinated by the unknown. As I got older my interests turned toward the weather for the same reason, the thrill of the unknown and ever changing."
Greg is a movie buff as well as a television junkie. He's also good on the drums and has been in various bands during his high school and college careers.
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Meteorologist Joe Astolfi was born and raised in Sandusky, Ohio, home to the world famous Cedar Point Amusement Park.
As a child, Joe would always flip through the television stations to catch all the different weather forecasts; his favorite meteorologist is Dick Goddard, Cleveland’s Tom Skilling. Joe moved to Illinois to attend Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology and Geographic Information Systems certificate from NIU in 2009. Ever since, he has lived in the Rockford area and is thrilled to be able to forecast the weather for northern Illinois.
In his free time, Joe enjoys outdoor photography, walking along one of the Rockford region's many nature trails, anything geography or weather related, and of course visiting friends and family. His favorite places to relax and take in the natural scenery include Sinnissippi Park and Blackhawk Springs Forest Preserve. He enjoys visiting museums. Chicago’s Field Museum and Rockford’s Burpee Museum of Natural History are his favorites.
There are quite a few orange and red maples showing up across the upper Midwest. Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin are already at peak color in the last week of September while we’re just starting to see some good color. Here in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin, get ready for some really good fall color within the next few weeks!
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This post was written by Eric Sorensen on September 30, 2008
After a 162 game schedule the Minnesota Twins and the Chicago White Sox have the exact same record atop the American League Central Division. Due to this oddity the two teams are forced to play one game to determine who goes to the playoffs to live the excitement of October baseball. The rivalry gets renewed tonight at 6:30pm at U.S. Cellular Field on the south side of Chicago. In my weather forecast, I am calling for a few fairweather clouds with temperatures holding steady in the upper 50s throughout the game. If you are one of the lucky people that have the opportunity to attend the game, bring a jacket because a northwest wind at 10-15 mph should chill you down efficiently.
Now for Painter’s baseball prediction. Nate Daugherty and Mike Morig are busy covering sports on the local scene today, so I will take a stab at the outcome of the game. I am calling for a higher than normal scoring contest with a heated battle to the end. I’ve got to stick with my hometown squad: Twins 8, White Sox 6. What’s your prognostication? Let’s hear it! -ADAM
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This post was written by Eric Sorensen on September 30, 2008
Over the weekend, my colleague Justin Gehrts posted on the arrival of the cold air. We’re off Saturday’s highs by twenty degrees areawide with additional falls likely over the next few days. Kind of sounds like Wall Street, doesn’t it? We can only hope our economy follows our temp-trend for late-week.
Bottom line: Get used to the chilly afternoons and cold nights…but let’s hold out for a “bail-out” which will in turn get us back on track…back into the 70s for the weekend. If only we could get Wall Street fixed by then, right?
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This post was written by Eric Sorensen on September 29, 2008
On the morning show today, we wished a happy belated birthday to Tianna. However, I do need to sneak in another birthday Weather Kid here on the blog. Today is my dad’s birthday, and there’s no gift better than some public embarrassment.
Hmm, on second thought… maybe the real gift is that I withheld his age? 
These chilly days ahead will have him wishing it was the end of June, time to go fishing Up North!
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This post was written by Eric Sorensen on September 29, 2008
Special Weather Statement (6:40am) – http://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/p.php?pid=200809291139-KDVN-WWUS83-SPSDVN
Special Weather Statement (5:45am) – http://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/p.php?pid=200809291040-KDVN-WWUS83-SPSDVN
Original post: A batch of showers and thunderstorms is pushing east out of Iowa and Minnesota this morning. The best chance for thunderstorms is closer to I-88. Stronger storms may produce wind gusts near 40mph and pea-sized hail. Closer to US20, a few embedded thunderstorms are possible with a lower threat of gusts and hail. Our Wisconsin towns will see generally rain, but may experience a few rumbles of thunder.
The severe weather threat is low today.
Much cooler air will begin spilling into the viewing area this evening.
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This post was written by Eric Sorensen on September 29, 2008
We’ve been talking about it for a while, and it’s finally just about here. The big pattern change arrives tomorrow, thanks to a potent cold front. Meanwhile, the entire upper-level weather pattern will enter into what’s known as an omega block, because the orientation of the jet stream looks like the Greek letter omega. The block will be located over the western U.S., allowing a steady stream of cool, Canadian air to spill into the Midwest. We’ll be sandwiched right between the clockwise spin of a high pressure and counterclockwise spin of a low pressure. Be ready for some cool days ahead!
This pattern will hold for at least the next several days, as it’s difficult for an omega block to either move or break down. The GFS computer model breaks it down as early as Thursday, although it has a tendency to rush things with these patterns. Our other long-range computer models keep us in the chill through at least next weekend.
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This post was written by Eric Sorensen on September 28, 2008
September is National Preparedness Month, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to encourage all Americans to take easy steps to prepare for natural disasters and emergencies at home, work, and school. A study conducted by the Ad Council and DHS in 2006 found that 91 percent of respondents said it was “very” or “somewhat” important to be prepared for emergencies, but only 54 percent put together an emergency kit; only 39 percent created an emergency plan; and just 40 percent searched for information about preparedness. Viewer Tip: Are you prepared? Taking a few simple steps now can help you and your family members stay safe if a natural disaster or other emergency occurs in your area.
Visit the State of Illinois’ Ready Illinois site for more preparedness resources: www.ready.illinois.gov/
(Sources: Department of Homeland Security. November 14, 2006.”Homeland Security Launches New Ads to Demonstrate Importance of Family Emergency Planning.” http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1163518483290.shtm; National Preparedness Month 2008. http://www.ready.gov/america/npm08/intro.html)
Earth Gauge: Preppin’
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This post was written by Eric Sorensen on September 28, 2008
On September 12th more than 6 inches of rain fell on top of Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. Thanks to Woody Mott for sending in these truly amazing pictures!
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This post was written by Eric Sorensen on September 26, 2008
If you missed the noon show, I mentioned that the latest computer model runs had made a big change from before and are now holding off the big movement of cold air until the end of next week. I’m not buying into it yet, but if it does occur… light, wet s-n-o-w (I don’t want to say it yet) is possible somewhere in the Midwest in a week’s time.
The GFS computer model suggests the possibility of what could be light lake-effect snow on the southern end of Lake Michigan. Temperatures aloft could support it… but how cold will we be at the surface? Average highs a week from now would be in the upper 60s. Even upper 40s would be 20 degrees below average… and that big of a difference from what’s typical is fairly extreme. Not unheard of, though.
Eric will be taking a good look at this change in the forecast this afternoon, and I’ll be watching it closely this weekend. After about two weeks of quiet, warm weather… anything cooler than normal will feel especially chilly.
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This post was written by Eric Sorensen on September 26, 2008
Autumn weather… mild, sunny afternoons… crisp mornings… too bad it isn’t always like that. We’re getting a dose of fall weather next week. However, it’s of the “blah” variety. We’ll be stuck in the lower 60s (and that may be a little optimistic) under cloudy skies and perhaps some showers.
In the meantime, southeasterly flow is keeping us warm today with our 8th straight day in a row with highs in the 80s. As a cold front approaches tomorrow, our wind will begin to shift to the west, and by later on Sunday, a northwest wind will have kicked in. And that northwest wind is going to drag an airmass down alllllll the way from the Yukon region – our first taste of a cold airmass. How long the cool weather will stick around is still up in the air since our computer models are having a tough time dealing with some of the “roadblocks” that may develop in our atmosphere. More often than not, we get stuck in a roadblock for longer than the models originally predict. Stay tuned…
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This post was written by Eric Sorensen on September 26, 2008
