Meteorology 101

[morsla]

I'm sure you remember the diagrams from highschool science or geography classes - water evapourates, forming clouds out over the ocean. Winds carry it inland, where mountain ranges cause the clouds to rise up to cooler altitudes, unleashing their cargo of rain.

Chicago is a bit like that, only the ocean is a lake, and the mountain range is made from steel and glass.

Helen and I wandered around Lincoln Park today, sweltering through the Conservatory (lots of palms, ferns and orchids - some of my favourite bits of any garden...) and watching the animals in the Zoo's African enclosures. The mercury was sitting on 92F when we left the animal house, so we retreated back to her apartment for icecream as black clouds rolled in from the lake.

Moments after getting indoors and wondering aloud "how long until the storm arrives?" the heavens opened and the building shook with thunder. I've never seen tree branches fly upwards past a tenth-floor window before...

A quick glance at NBC news revealed a sudden tornado warning for the area, right over our heads. The storm only lasted half an hour, but the bus ride home showed a city covered in torn branches, with fallen trees in the park.

Moral of the story: When you feel like having icecream, act on your impulse immediately. Staying put may result in your untimely death by tornado-related trauma.

Comments

[cookie-dreams.livejournal.com]

I whole-heartedly agree with the moral of your story. In fact, despite the recent lack of tornadoes around here, I think I will have some ice cream. You know, just to be safe.

Also, I'm jealous that you saw a tornado up close and personal. no awesome winds ever come howling by where I am... Although Chicago has always been good to me weather-wise. it's when I saw -40 and found out that snow can freeze over and become harder than a lot of rocks I've met... Good stuff!

[morsla.livejournal.com]

No actual tornado, from what I saw - just a tree-uprooting thunderstorm that shook the building we were in. Probably a good thing, as I almost tried to walk home through it...