Only days after a Chicago Heights teen drown in a dangerous rip current, the National Weather Service announced they will be issuing specific rip current warnings. The program has been in the works for some time, reviewing data on incidents that span years. Originally, it was thought that the Great Lakes were immune to the dangerous tides, commonly found on the coasts. Meteorologists say they will issue forecasts based on conditions known to produce the......

So far in 2008, 8 people have died after being struck by lightning. Thank God it's Lightning Safety Week! Prepare to have your awareness raised! The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recommends that "when thunder roars, go indoors." Of the 45 people who were killed by lightning in 2007, 44 were struck outside. Cars (except for convertibles) are safe shelters, but "car ports,...open garages, covered patio, picnic shelters, beach shacks/pavilions, golf shelters, camping tents, large......

Photo by Broken Bat Yesterday's high temperatures felt miraculous. But they're not going to last. There's a 40 percent chance of snow tonight and a 60 percent chance tomorrow. [National Weather Service]......

Triptych by fjsjr Psst. Down there. Hey! It's me! Nature! I live in the sky and throw water down on you whenever I feel like it. Guess what? I super feel like it this year. Guess what again? It's going to snow tonight for the 35th time this season. I know--it usually only snows 30 times all season. But I like to think of myself as a wild bird who can't be caged. Sadly......

Photo by Kudzuplanet Usually when we hear "8 inches," we think "yay." But not now. Today, it's in reference to how much snow we're supposed to get this afternoon. Our fair city is in for another 6 to 8 inches of icy precipitation, and if that amount does fall, it would make this season the snowiest in a long time. Maybe we should just start rooting for that to happen so at least all......

Photo by RBabiera Michigan Avenue, a new luxury magazine, has set a new launch date: September 17. Dan Uslan, most recently of Where Chicago magazine, was named the publisher today. There's a Where Chicago magazine? Live and learn. [Crain's] A Cook County assistant state's attorney has been charged drug possession. Chad Sabora, who has been an assistant state's attorney since 2005, is accused of having about $50 worth of heroin on him after police......

Photo by Andy Marfia We can't stop complaining about how cold it is--and luckily, it's not just us being pussies. It really is freakishly cold. Tomorrow's going to be the record-breakingly chilly: "The predicted high of 9 degrees at O'Hare would be the coldest this late in a cold season since a 3 degree high on Feb. 21, 1963." Our entire area is under a wind chill advisory starting this evening because polar gusts......

Photo by CStein96 This weekend's forecast? Three guesses. More snow! We're going to have single-digit lows tonight, but it should be pretty clear tomorrow during the day, with a 50 percent chance of a "wintry mix" tomorrow night. Sunday, though, looks pretty miserable with a 100 percent chance of wintry mix and precipitation throughout the day. At least it'll be in the 30s? [National Weather Service]......

Yes, it's going to keep snowing most of the night. The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather warning, a lake effect snow advisory, and a short-term forecast that says "more snow." We're looking at single-digit temps tonight, but it should warm up a little by the end of the week.......

The City's nipples have permanently shifted into cut-glass state, but there's more cold on the way, and the National Weather Center says there's a 100 percent chance of precipitation tonight. There's a chance of snow later this week, too, and if you've been wondering what the difference is between sleet and hail, wonder no more. Seems like a lot of snow, yes? But according to our beloved Ask Tom, it's not quite record-breaking — as......

This time it's for real. Probably. The snow we were supposed to see yesterday is actually coming today and local weathermen (and weatherwomen) are predicting even more snow than initially reported. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning until 6pm today with up to 12 inches of snow in the forecast. With temperatures at or below freezing, the snow will be wet, heavy and mixed with ice. Bleh. Strong winds are also......

Obama wins Illinois; Clinton takes Arkansas, Tennesee and Kansas. McCain took Illinois, Romney Massachusettes. [Trib, Trib] The weather's disgusting, and it's getting worse. There's a 100 percent chance of snow tomorrow. [National Weather Service] Walter Jacobson is joining the staff of WBEZ's 848. [S-T] Friend of the site Scott sent us this link with the subject line "AAAAAH." Amen, brother. The Shedd is closing its Oceanarium midyear for several months to update the facilities, which......

Good news, snowbunnies. The National Weather Service is predicting up to 7 inches of snow today, starting around 2pm and continuing through Friday morning. We're already having a very snowy season--so far, 22 days with measurable snow, and we've racked up 30.2 inches at Midway (average for the last 30 years is 25.5), which makes this the fourth snowiest winter in 25 years. Luckily, temperatures won't be too brutal, staying somewhere in the 20s.......

Photo by MMayesPeople sure seem grumpy today. Maybe you just need a cookie. A homemade treat based on the Girl Scout cookie Samoas. We have heard people argue that Thin Mints are the best Girl Scout cookie, but that is hilariously wrong. Samoas are the best. Maybe a party would cheer you up? How about a Clue party? We are so, so jealous. A weather Channel correspondent got frostbite on air last night, reporting......

While we’re still waiting for today’s high temperature, the forecast calls for things to warm above freezing -- a welcome relief for dog walkers and CTA commuters in every neighborhood. Tomorrow’s temps will be well above freezing, melting all the snow, and creating the possibility of ice jams and flooding on the Rock and Kankakee rivers. While we have a bit of a break from the cold, winter weather of late, it won’t last long,......

"Frost feathers" by Sceneunseen If you managed not to fall into the sinkhole this morning or die at Mary-Kate Olsen's apartment this afternoon, then you're poised to be able to enjoy tonight...when temperatures are going to be in the teens, with windchill putting us at around -8. And it's going to stay really, really cold the rest of the week. Blerg. [National Weather Service]......

"Ice, Ice Baby" by JoeM500 It's cold again? In Chicago? In January? Will wonders never cease? But seriously folks, it is really effing cold outside, and it's going to be even colder tomorrow. The cold front, courtesy of Siberia, will meet warmer lake air and produce everyone's favorite meteorological delight, lake effect snow. Expect some snow later this afternoon into this evening, but not too much accumulation. Thanks, National Weather Service! At least we're......

Yesterday a low-pressure system swept across our region, ripping up trees, knocking out power and pulling the roof off at least one house. We're feeling Harper's Index-y, and we're giving into that feeling. 11: People killed in storm-related car crashes yesterday 88: Miles-per-hour that winds were gusting off the lake 215,000: Homes that lost power yesterday 15,000: Homes still without power as of last night 300: Flights canceled from O'Hare 100: Flights canceled from......

Unless you stayed inside all day yesterday (and that wouldn't have been a bad idea, because it was dis-gusting out there), you couldn't miss the super-slippery sidewalks all around the city. An ice storm Saturday night made traveling around the city extra-treacherous due to the thin coating of ice on sidewalks. Chicago city officials, being their normal helpful selves, urged people to salt their sidewalks and walk carefully when it's icy. And also to look......

Get ready for more fluffy white stuff. Our area's under a snow advisory until tomorrow, with precipitation expected this afternoon. Brace yourself for between three and six inches of snow today and tonight, plus more tomorrow. And it's time to bust out your for-real winter coat — the temperature will drop to 13 degrees tomorrow night. (Tonight should be a cozy 24. Get your cocoa/hot toddy/fancypants tea stuff ready.) Where's this weather system coming......

Notice that nip in the air? Because our planet spins on a tilted axis, that nip's about to get nippier, starting any minute now. We may be in for the first frost of the season tonight, possibly accompanied by flurries. Aw, shitfuck. It is on, wintertime. It's going to be even chillier tomorrow, with temperatures in the 30s all day, so get your blankets and doodads out of the closet and prepare. Today, the......

Three men died last night after the sailboat they were on in Lake Michigan capsized in Indiana waters near 95th and Lakeshore. A fourth man survived, but all were in the water for close to 45 minutes, and spokesman for the fire department says the rescue was exceptionally difficult. Authorities still aren't sure what the four men were doing out on the lake, given that the National Weather Service had issued a small craft advisory.......

Yesterday's big storm? Well, not as big as we had thought it would be. But 2,300 ComEd customers are without power on the South Side, there was some property damage downstate, and an 11-year-old on the West Side was struck by lightning. He's listed as being in good condition. Maybe they should take him to UIC's Lightning Injury Lab? We cannot recommend this reading list highly enough. What happens when people are struck by lightning?......

To paraphrase Ronald Reagan, it's morning in Chicago, but not for long. The storms that wreaked havoc throughout the area are a faint memory, and we're left to clean up the mess as we wait for more storms to come today. The north and northwest sides of the city felt the brunt of the storm, with reports of trees being split by the high winds. Over 300,000 businesses and residents were left without electricity......

We have several areas of faux expertise. Ones we've gained from many years of watching TV shows on the subjects, reading novels on the subjects, reading news stories on the subjects and just being generally interested in the subjects. These subjects are law, medicine and weather. Needless to say, we've spent many hours with the Weather Channel on in the background. We've even had a favorite Weather Channel meteorologist (Dave Schwartz, anyone?) and we have......

File this under “yay!,” but temperatures this winter may actually be slightly above normal – which is hopefully some consolation on this snowy, 30 degree day. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources says rainfall in September was a half-inch above normal, and in Chicago and southern Illinois specifically, precipitation was also above normal. And, this leads the National Weather Service to forecast an increased chance of above-normal temperatures across Illinois this winter and blow-normal precipitation......

Chicagoist nervously waited out yesterday afternoon and evening for the promised tumultuous storms in the forecast - Should we walk to the supermarket? Should we start up the grill? - but they never came. Central Illinois and Wisconsin, on the other hand, were not so lucky. The National Weather Service reported tornadoes, high winds and softball-sized hail throughout the area. SOFTBALL-SIZED?!?! eeep! A Parsons Company manufacturing plant in Roanoke, 20 miles east of Peoria,......