Tag: weather

Spring is here

Woodstock Willie predicts an early spring (J Jacobs photo.)
Woodstock Willie predicts an early spring (J Jacobs photo.)

 

Was Woodchuck Willie right?

Well, depending on which measurement you use, the first day of Spring is today, March 1. But if you go by other measurements. it is mid-March.

Tom Skilling, WGN’s longtime meteorologist who recently retired, would remind listeners that March 1 is the first day of Spring. And Woodstock Willie predicted an early Spring this year during his annual  coming out event on the town’s historic square, Feb. 2.

But astronomers would mark March 20 of 2025 beginning at 4:01 CDT (9:01 UTC) as the season’s first day.

EarthSky explains Astronomical Spring by noting that it happens in relationship to the Earth’s rotation and that the vernal equinox happens when the sun moves further north over the Equator. That also marks the Southern Hemisphere’s first day of Autumn.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac explains that on the March equinox, the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere receive about equal amounts of sunlight. That is because neither hemisphere is tilted more toward or away from the Sun.

Meteorological spring starts on March 1 and runs through May 31 every year no matter the timing of the vernal equinox.

With temps about to reach the mid to upper 50’s today, Chicago area residents are likely to believe or hope that Woodstock Willie  was right.

For more information visit EarthSky and Old Farmer’s Almanac.

 

 

Find latest weather and transportation information

Before, during and after a mega storm, the next item after worrying about the basics of shelter, food and water for themselves, friends and relatives, is good weather and transportation information.

Before, during and after a mega storm, the next item people worry about after  shelter, food and water for themselves, friends and relatives, is up-to-date weather and transportation information.

Sandy brought more than rain and flooding. The hurricane turned tropical storm also resulted in snow as it interacted with other weather systems. Knowing about road conditions becomes even more important when heading into winter.
Sandy brought more than rain and flooding. The hurricane turned tropical storm also resulted in snow as it interacted with other weather systems. Knowing about road conditions becomes even more important when heading into winter.

Here are some sites that have reliable statistics and other data:

For weather:  AccuWeather has up-todate information with additional weather warnings from Justin Roberti at State College, PA.

Among his latest information is that the 1977 Hurricane Gladys was the strongest hurricane north of Cape Hatteras at a low barometric pressure of 27.73 inches. Sandy’s low barometric pressure was offshore Monday at 27.76 inches.

Also on the site are rain and snow totals and surges. According to the AccuWeather site the highest surges were at The Battery, NY at 9 feet above normal, Kings Point, NY at 12.5 feet above normal and New Haven, CT at 9 feet above normal.

For air traffic and cancellations: Go to Flight Aware. For Sandy the site showed more than 8,000 cancellations Monday and more than 6,000 Tuesday by airline, airport and destination. The site also has flight tracker information.

Along with checking your flight departure, learn what is happening at destination or transfer airports.
Along with checking your flight departure, learn what is happening at destination or transfer airports.

Rail transportation: See Amtrak for general information and visit alerts for disruptions.

Road: Each state has a department of transportation that tells road conditions. I highly recommend checking these state sites before starting out on a road trip. In Illinois it is IDOT. However, the federal government also has a DOT Web site . Visit resources for services and alerts.

Photos by Jodie Jacobs

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