This June started off in the gutter with respect to temperatures. We had multiple days where highs would struggle to make it into the 60s and 70s. The good news is that if you have been longing for summer temps and tons of sun, they both are finally here! You don’t need me to tell you that this June has been particularly cooler than last year, but looking at the numbers it is plain to see. By this date last year, we had already stacked up several 90° June days, however we have still been itching for our first one this year. On the rainfall front things look a lot better. Last June through this date we had only received 0.61″ of rain compared to this years 1.29″! We have more than doubled last years number, but that trend looks to slow a bit as sunshine takes over starting tomorrow through the end of the week. Enjoy the 80s and the sun! -Greg

Posted under statistics, weather

Flag Day is observed annually on June 14th.  This date is often associated with pleasant temperatures; after all, we are in meteorological summer.  The average high temperature for Flag Day in Rockford is 81 degrees; the average low is 58 degrees. 

While 2013 will be close to average, Flag Day has had its extremes in years past.  In fact, Flag Day 2012 was hot and humid with a high of 88 in the Forest City.  The all-time record high is 98 degrees, which occurred in 1987.  The coldest temperature was 40 degrees in 1933.  The rainiest was in 1926, with nearly 5 inches of rain drenching the area.  The latter two records, in case you’re a history buff, were technically set before Congress established Flag Day (which happened in 1949).

-Joe

Posted under 13 Climate Authority, record weather, statistics, weather

Meteorological summer has arrived!  Meteorologists classify June 1st through August 31st as Summer. This makes record-keeping and climatological data a bit easier to study, when compared to the dates of astronomical summer.  Obviously, this is the warmest time of the year in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.  Climatologically speaking, it’s the wettest time of year too.

June’s average high temperature steadily rises from 77 degrees on the 1st to 84 degrees on the 30th.  In Rockford, the month of June typically picks up around 4.65 inches of rain. June is our wettest calendar month. As far as extremes go, the hottest June temperature in Rockford occurred June 1, 1934 with a high of 106 degrees! The coldest June temperature observed in the Forest City was on June 4 and June 5, 1945. Temperatures plummeted to 35 degrees with some light frost.

-Joe

Posted under 13 Climate Authority, statistics, weather

Last night brought the country our biggest tornado outbreak of the year with a confirmed F4 that touched ground in Easter Texas near Granbury. This mile wide twister has claimed 6 lives, has left 7 people missing, has injured dozens more and has detroyed hundreds of homes. This outbreak isn’t uncommon, however after last year’s relatively tame severe weather season, it caught many people off guard. It is important to remember that May is peak season for tornadic activity, with the peak for thunderstorm activity coming in July. -Greg

Posted under Project: Tornado, severe weather, statistics, tornado, weather

This May has brought us a little bit of everything when it comes to both high and low temperatures with highs reaching into the 90s and lows bottoming out in the 30s. Despite these large temperature extremes, we have seen a very similar May to that of last year. Out of the 14 days this month, 7 have been warmer than last year and 7 have been cooler. The one thing we have going in our favor this year is an inch more of rainfall than we had through this date in May last year. -Greg

Posted under statistics, weather

Average Date of Last 32°

Patchy frost is in the forecast for early Sunday morning and again early Monday morning.  And while we are entering the middle of May, frost is not unheard-of this time of year.

In fact, the latest freezing temperature (32°) observed in Rockford over the current climatological period (1981-2010) is May 27th.  Most climate observation sites across northern Illinois are similar, with the exception of Mount Carroll.  Over the past thirty years, the latest freezing temperature observed in that Carroll County community was June 10th!

On average, the last 32° reading in Rockford is April 27th.  It is interesting to note that in 2013, Rockford has not fallen to 32° since April 26th!  But that could change, since temperatures are expected to fall into the lower 30s both Sunday and Monday morning.  Climatologically speaking, the chance to see such chilly temperatures will continue to decline.  Nine times out of ten, we won’t see temperatures fall below the freezing mark any later than May 14th. -Joe

Posted under 13 Climate Authority, climate/climate change, statistics, weather

I had the opportunity to visit two schools on Friday for Project: Tornado 2013.  My first stop in the morning was near Poplar Grove at North Boone Upper Elementary School, where I spoke with 5th and 6th graders.  My second stop of the day brought me to Franklin Grove, where I spoke with 3rd and 4th graders at Ashton Franklin Center Elementary School.

A great question was brought up at AFC and it stumped me!  The question was: ‘How many tornadoes touch down each year in Illinois?’

After digging around for the answer, I found that 54 tornadoes occur in the Prairie State during an average year.  This climatological average was derived from all tornadoes that touched down between 1991 and 2010.  This ranks Illinois as 6 out of all 50 states for the most tornadoes per year!  Of course, this is a climatological average, so some years will see more and some years will see far less.  In 2006, 124 tornadoes were observed in Illinois.  In 2012, however, only 39 tornadoes touched down in Illinois.  Wisconsin averages 24 tornadoes per year, ranking it at 20 out of all 50 states.

Another statistic that better portrays the yearly tornado threat in Illinois is the average number of tornadoes per 10,000 square miles.  Illinois’ average is 9.7 tornadoes per 10,000 square miles and Wisconsin’s is 4.5 tornadoes per 10,000 square miles.  How big is 10,000 square miles? To give you an idea, the size of all 13 counties in the 13 WREX viewing area put together is just 7,695 square miles.

-Joe

Posted under Project: Tornado, safety, severe weather, statistics, tornado, weather

Mostly dry weather and seasonably warm temperatures brought a pleasant weekend to the Stateline on May 4th and 5th. With a cut-off low pressure system stalled out in the Tennessee Valley, rain and cool temperatures stayed just to our south.  Since we were on the periphery of a ridge of high pressure, we saw enough breaks in the cloudcover which helped our local temperatures climb into the 70s. 

The forecast for the upcoming work week will stay the course, in terms of mild temperatures.  We’ve got a decent shot at 70 degrees for each and every day of the next five.  This would bring our total of 70 degree days to seven in a row!  The last time we saw such a streak was almost 8 months ago!  September 6th through 12th of 2012 brought Rockford and the Stateline high temperatures of 70 degrees or more.

The return of the mild air is certainly a welcomed sight.  Let’s enjoy it!

-Joe

Posted under 13 Climate Authority, statistics, weather

Saturday marked just the fourth time where temperatures climbed to 70 degrees or more in Rockford.  If you were like me, you probably enjoyed it!  The mild weather has been lacking across the Stateline for much of the year.  When reviewing all 124 days of 2013 (January 1 through May 4), just 15 days have had high temperatures at or above 60 degrees! That’s only 12 percent of all days so far. That figure lowers to just 3 percent, when reviewing days of 70 degrees or greater!

While only one day rose above 60 degrees in January, no days had high temperatures in the 60s (or higher) in February and March!  April saw ten days with high temperatures in the 60s. But it wasn’t until April 29 when Rockford broke the 70 degree mark (75 to be exact)—nearly one month later than the average first 70-degree day!

The forecast for the first full week of May will bring an end to the mild weather drought, so to speak, with at least 5 days at or above 70 degrees! -Joe

Posted under 13 Climate Authority, statistics, weather, weather geek

Today will mark our second day in a row that we have topped out at or above 80° in Rockford. This is the first time we have seen back-to-back 80s since September 11-12 of last year. This wonderful weather has put a spring in our step and the yearning for summer into our hearts. Hold tight before you soak in too much and get used to this trend. Tomorrow marks a return to cooler high temperatures in the 50s and chances for rain everyday through the weekend. With that said, enjoy this little summer vacation! -Greg

Posted under rain, statistics