Chicago area was blasted by the fifth windstorm of November with gusts of up to 60 miles per hour. The strong winds caused the closure of several popular bike paths next to the Lake Michigan as huge waves, with a few up to 17 feet high, hammered the Chicago bank. Powerful howling northerly winds moved across the length of the Lake Michigan toward the city area for over 60 successive hours.
At one time on Tuesday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) water-level gauge positioned at Calumet Harbor measured rise in water levels to up to 26 inches.
At Soldier Field, the WeatherBug sensor recorded maximum wind speeds of 60 mph. At Harrison-Dever crib, 3 miles away from the shore, similar wind speeds were recorded. Other remarkable wind gusts of 57 mph were reported from the Whitney Young High School in the city. The top wind speeds at Lowell and Gary IN were 55 mph. The wind gusts of 53 mph at Blue Island, 52 mph at Oak Lawn and 51 mph at East Chicago, Hinsdale and Lombard were also recorded. The peak wind speeds clocked 48 mph at Midway and 46 mph at O’Hare.
November’s maximum daily wind speeds this year have clocked over 40 mph on five occasions, making November of 2011 the windiest one in the last six years. Officials stated that Tuesday’s 46 mph wind speed makes it the fifth day this November when the speeds topped 40 mph in the region.
The average wind speed for this month up to Tuesday was at 11.6 mph, which is more than the average of the whole November month of 10 mph recorded since 1998. This year’s November recorded the highest average wind speed in the last 13 years.
Rainfall of more than 2 inches was recorded on Tuesday throughout the regions of eastern and downstate Indiana. Pouring rains transformed into heavy snow by Tuesday afternoon. The snowfall continued through Tuesday evening. The howling winds and decreasing visibility made it very difficult for motorists to commute during the maelstrom.
Many vehicles were trapped or finished up in ditches. The heavy and wet snow along with strong winds brought down trees and power lines across southwest through northeast regions of Indiana and Michigan.
Constant rain drenched the Livingston County, Michigan on Tuesday. According to Matt Mosteiko, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service at Whit Lake Township, 2 to 4 inches of snow accumulation is expected during the night over the Livingston County. Many reports of downed power lines were received from all over the county.
