Results tagged “winter”

We're not experts on weather, but we can tell you that this past winter was ridonkulously cold (yes, that's the scientific term). Now, the Farmer's Almanac is telling us that our upcoming winter will be dry (yay!) but also "bitterly cold" (boo!). The almanac likes to get all fancy pants and show how it's always spot on, thus already incurring our wrath and it's only early September. We, however, are just going to ignore it. At least until it's too cold to.

Sure, our summer has been cooler than usual and the beach-mongers among us are a bit miffed, but if El Niño impacts us enough to give us a warmer than usual winter, as Skilling Says it might, we can deal.

photo by josephp

Monica Eng vented about the long lines at Garrett Popcorn's Randolph Street location in the Stew today, and also expressed gratitude that they've opened a temporary "Holiday Express" location on Boul Mich (625 N. Michigan) for pre-packaged popcorn only. So those of you wanting to buy Garrett for gifts now know where to go so the rest of us don't have to wait in line waiting for you to decide on a tin.

As if summer coming to a close weren’t enough to stir up our seasonal depression, now we hear the Farmers' Almanac is predicting a nasty winter in our neck of the woods. The almanac, which boasts an 80 to 85 percent accuracy rate for weather forecasting, claims that two-thirds of the country will experience lower-than-average temperatures, and the upper Midwest will experience more than its normal share of snowfall.

Our feelings about this recent winter progressed like this: we were initially excited about the cold and snow, were merely tolerating it a few months later, and now we are completely sick of winter and want it to GO AWAY. It’s been a pretty snowy time of it these last few months, and with yesterday’s seasonally invasive snowfall, it has officially become Chicago’s seventh snowiest winter season since we started keeping track of these things in 1884.

Wintry mix ≠ out like a lamb. [NWS]

Wishes don't come true. It's still snowing like a mofo. If you can leave work now, do. The roads are a mess (even though plows and salt trucks are out), and sidewalks are the slushy stuff nightmares and broken teeth are made of. At least it should let up by late tonight, but for reals, bleh. [NWS]

Happy spring! Today marked the spring equinox, which means bust out the picnic baskets and flower pots--it's time to celebrate. Except wait a little while because our area is under a winter storm watch tonight through late tomorrow. Expect heavy, wet snow starting after midnight, with around an inch accumulating over night and 3-5 inches accumulating during the day on Friday. At least it won't be too cold; highs should be in the high-30s the rest of this week and into the 40s on Monday.

Sand, kitty litter, salt and...beet juice? Yes, there's another product in the de-icing repertoire these days, and it comes from sugar beets.

Weekend forecast = snowy. Thanks a lot, lake effect. We're looking at around 2 inches accumulating overnight, with more falling tomorrow during the day. Focus on this, though: Tuesday, we'll have a high of 47. Yesss. [NWS]

You know winter has fully set its icy claws into your heart when you hear "35 degrees" and think "hey, I'll take it!" So run outside now to soak up some rays while they last. It's supposed to get cloudy this afternoon and snow a little tonight, with temperatures dropping the rest of the week and into the weekend.

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]

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.

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 this toe-freezing was for record-breaking purposes.

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 are coming our way via Canada. According to the advisory, "the colder air will be ushered in on northwest winds near 25 mph... which will lower wind chills into the 20 to 30 below zero range late tonight and Wednesday morning." (Emphasis ours.)

What's With the Two Inches?

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]

Johanna Vera, 23, was charged with attempted murder for allegedly giving her children, 3 and 10 months, juice with rat poison and boric acid in it. Vera also apparently drank it herself. All three survived the November 29th incident, which Vera says stemmed from a domestic dispute that left her wanting to "die and take her children with her." [S-T]

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.

Our pal Matt over at Spud Art spotted someone's victimless urban prank, and wondered....

So the big snow wasn't all that big after all. At least not in Chicago. Parts of Wisconsin got 20 inches. Ayee! But the lousy weather was indeed shocking--five people were sent to the hospital last night after they received mild electrical shocks, possibly from a bum wire in a utility pole. It's the third electric shock incident in the last few days.

Should I Shovel?

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. [WGN, NWS]