Chicago Storm

ORD received 1.71" of precip on July 3rd, which broke the record precip total for the date of 1.57" (1871).

Chicago/O'Hare received 1.71" of precipitation on July 3rd, which broke the record precipitation total for the date of 1.57" (1871).

Ended up with a 3-day rainfall total around 7" at home, with flooding around town.

Family party on the 4th at my dads was fun, with the yard partially underwater, due to the nearly stationary t'storms during the afternoon.

ORD ended up with 4 90°+ days during this heat wave, while MDW ended up with 5. ORD was able to snag the record high min on July 1st with the low of 80°.

...ORD...
June 29th: 92°/76°
June 30th: 94°/79°
July 1st: 95°/80°
July 2nd: 95°/71°

...MDW...
June 29th: 93°/77°
June 30th: 94°/78°
July 1st: 94°/78°
July 2nd: 95°/72°
July 3rd: 91°/70°

On 7/3/2026 at 3:35 PM, Chicago Storm said:

Got rolled at home before heading off to work.

Peak wind gusts ~60MPH with scattered branches down around town.

As for ORD, one of the runway sensors gusted to 63MPH, but ASOS had a peak wind gust of 54MPH.

A second line hit early Friday night, with peak wind gusts of 50-60MPH.

where's @MidwestChaser?

two metro watches today.

Lake Geneva, WI was hit hard. Widespread and significant damage across that area, including several boats that were capsized on the lake.

Seven people were rescued from the lake and three children lost their lives.

Got rolled at home before heading off to work.

Peak wind gusts ~60MPH with scattered branches down around town.

As for ORD, one of the runway sensors gusted to 63MPH, but ASOS had a peak wind gust of 54MPH.

1 hour ago, King James said:

Downgrading over a degree or two is lol. Hot as shit out, just like the previous 3 days

the extreme heat warning was borderline as it was.

personally i was fine with the issuance (and wanted it), but it was borderline in general.

ORD and MDW both topped out at 95° yesterday.

Trained last evening/night at home.

Ended up with over 3" of rainfall.

ORD and MDW both topped out at 95° yesterday.

...2026 90°+ Day Tally...
7 - ARR
5 - ORD
5 - MDW
5 - RFD
5 - PWK
5 - UGN
5 - LOT
4 - DPA

strobe-lightning fest this evening.

ORD had a low temp of 80° yesterday, which broke the record high min temp for the date of 78° (1931).

ORD had a low temp of 80° yesterday, which broke the record high min temp for the date of 78° (1931).

Chicago/O'Hare had a low temperature of 80° on July 1st, which broke the record high minimum temperature for the date of 78° (1931).

Made it up to 95° at ORD and 94° at MDW yesterday.

Made it up to 95° at ORD and 94° at MDW yesterday.

...2026 90°+ Day Tally...
6 - ARR
4 - ORD
4 - MDW
4 - RFD
4 - PWK
4 - UGN
4 - LOT
3 - DPA

To be fair, there was one severe cell that did go up.
I'm pretty sure it hinged upon surface convergence along the outflow / differential heating boundary from the early day MCS in Northern WI / MI being sufficient enough for widespread initiation, and it was close as several other cells did attempt to go up.
But hey, it happens. And it just shows how sensitive the potential is in such a moisture-laden / high instability / weakly capped environment.

SUPER localized scouring out and mixing in parts of the metro area currently.

All sites are carrying a 70+ DP, except for ORD and UGN, which have been running in the low to upper 60's. ORD has a current DP of 63, with 70 at MDW. ORD also has the highest area temp currently at 95.

I cross-checked things with our back-up units here, and they are right on par with the lower DP and are actually running a bit warmer with the temp at 97.

ORD and MDW both peaked at 94° yesterday.

ORD and MDW both peaked at 94° yesterday.

...2026 90°+ Day Tally...
5 - ARR
3 - ORD
3 - MDW
3 - RFD
3 - PWK
3 - UGN
3 - LOT
2 - DPA

We’re finally seeing earlier and better mixing locally today.

Monday and yesterday really didn’t start mixing until later afternoon. Today it has been all day, and it looks to be more thorough now, with DP’s bouncing between 66-70° currently.

With that, today should feature the peak high temp of this stretch. Tomorrow would have a shot as well, if not for increased cloud and outflow potential.

2 minutes ago, A-L-E-K said:

normies are sick of it already

sucks 2 b them.

ORD topped out at 92° yesterday, with MDW 93°.