By Tammie Souza, FOX 32 News Weekend Meteorologist - bio | email
CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) -
Going to the Republican National Convention? Then you may want to monitor the tropics because Tropical Depression # 9 is churning away in the Atlantic Ocean heading west at 20 mph with 35 mph winds.
The early forecast models track the system into the western Caribbean and over Cuba toward Florida by early next week. Wind speeds within #9 are expected to reach 39 mph by Tuesday night at which time it will become Tropical Storm Isaac. It will further intensify and become a hurricane by Thursday.
Tampa, Florida is the sight for the Republican National Convention and that city is long overdue for a major hurricane. The last direct hit was in 1927 when a category three hurricane struck Tarpon Springs and put both downtown Tampa and St. Petersburg underwater.
Since the convention is still a week away, the track and intensity could change several times before then. Isaac may also affect Charlotte, North Carolina early the following week just in time for the Democratic National Convention. I guess that would make Isaac a "Fair and Balanced" Hurricane.
Either way both the Republican National Convention and the Democratic National Convention need to keep an eye on the tropics because things are getting busy and several more tropical waves have formed off the coast of Africa and are heading westward.
Tuesday, January 22 2013 2:26 PM EST2013-01-22 19:26:59 GMT
Chicago ended an impressive 711 day streak without a sub-zero temperature Tuesday morning. That is the 4th longest such stretch since records began in 1871.
Chicago ended an impressive 711 day streak without a sub-zero temperature Tuesday morning. That is the 4th longest such stretch since records began in 1871.
Friday, January 18 2013 11:18 PM EST2013-01-19 04:18:05 GMT
Frigid Arctic air has been pent up across the Hudson Bay area for several weeks now stuck under the influence a strong polar area of low pressure also known as the "polar vortex."
Frigid Arctic air has been pent up across the Hudson Bay area for several weeks now stuck under the influence a strong polar area of low pressure also known as the "polar vortex."
Friday, January 18 2013 3:41 PM EST2013-01-18 20:41:23 GMT
The U.S. drought of 2012 is considered the worst since the 1950s, but there appears to be some brief relief.
The U.S. drought of 2012 is considered the worst since the 1950s, but there appears to be some brief relief thanks to recent soaking rains stretching from the south through the southeast and the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic states.
Monday, December 3 2012 7:18 PM EST2012-12-04 00:18:16 GMT
Warm, moist air streamed into the Chicago area today and although we were blanketed in fog and clouds, the temperatures soared to record highs between 68 and 72 degrees.
Warm, moist air streamed into the Chicago area today and although we were blanketed in fog and clouds, the temperatures soared to record highs between 68 and 72 degrees.
