Chicago in for a rain-free Labor Day weekend
Spectacular Labor Day weekend weather awaits Chicagoans. The 50,000-foot tall
thunderstorms, which treated Downstate Illinois residents to spectacular lightning
displays while bypassing much of the Chicago area late Thursday, deposited
downpours of 3 to 4 inches and have moved on. Rain-free weather is predicted well
into Tuesday. The air mass responsible is to stall in coming days as air, vented out the
top of intensifying Hurricane Gustav -- expected to traverse the Gulf of Mexico this
weekend -- migrates away from the storm then sinks, warms and dries over much of
the eastern U.S. It's a process likely to strengthen and slow the warm air dome allowing
to it slowly stagnate here. The light, disorganized surface winds within will facilitate a
slow build-up of haze, which should become a little more evident each of the coming
three days.
The Labor Day holiday, accepted by many as an unofficial close of the summer season,
is no stranger to warm, dry weather in Chicago. Of the past 114 Labor Days, 64 have
been rain-free.
SHORTER DAYS, LESS INTENSE SUN MAKE LATE SEASON 'HEAT' MORE TOLERABLE
Readings flirt with 90 degrees inland Sunday and Monday. But humidities are to remain
low until the middle of next week.
--Tom Skilling, Chief Meteorologist, WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune