If you are looking for fresh snow by Christmas morning or are curious about potential travel disruptions, the best chances for at least 1" of new snowfall early this week exist across the mountainous West, Great Lakes, and Northeast. Otherwise, temperatures this last full week of December will average above normal for much of the lower 48 states. Read More >
Chicago, IL
Weather Forecast Office
Congratulations to the Illinois Tollway for being recognized as StormReady!
 |
|
Pictured from left to right are Illinois Tollway Board Chair Dorothy Abreu, Roadway Maintenance Manager Joe Dragovich, NWS Chicago Meteorologist Zachary Yack, NWS Chicago Warning Coordination Meteorologist Mike Bardou, General Manager of Roadway Maintenance Rohan Gayle, Chief of Maintenance and Traffic Darrion Robinson and Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse. (Photo credit to Illinois Tollway) |
Being part of a Weather-Ready Nation is about preparing for increasing vulnerability to extreme weather and water events. Some 98 percent of all Presidentially declared disasters are weather related, leading to around 500 deaths per year and nearly $15 billion in damage. The StormReady program helps arm America’s communities with the communication and safety skills to save lives and property before, during and after the event.
StormReady communities, counties, Indian nations, universities and colleges, military bases, government sites, commercial enterprises and other groups are better prepared to protect lives from severe weather through advanced planning, education and awareness. No community is storm proof, but StormReady can help communities save lives.
StormReady uses a grassroots approach to help agencies and communities develop plans to handle all types of extreme weather - from tornadoes to winter storms. The program encourages agencies to take a new, proactive approach to improving local hazardous weather operations by providing emergency managers with clear-cut guidelines on how to improve their hazardous weather operations.
The StormReady program recognizes entities that establish exceptional severe weather preparedness plans and communications. Some of the requirements include:
Redundant methods of receiving severe weather warnings and forecasts
Redundant methods of disseminating warning information
Methods of monitoring local weather conditions
Promote the importance of readiness through internal and external outreach
Develop a formal hazardous weather operations plan
For more information about the Illinois Tollway and their StormReady recognition see the Illinois Tollway press release.
Hazards
Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Briefing
Skywarn
Outlooks
Watch/Warning/Advisory Criteria
Snow Squall Warnings
Local Forecasts
Text Products
Aviation
Marine
Fire
Enhanced Data Display (EDD)
Great Lakes Marine Portal
Lake Michigan Beach Forecast
El Nino
Snow and Ice Probabilities
Past Weather
Stormdata
Holiday Climate Data
Climate Plots
Weather Event Write-Ups
Education
Jetstream
Student Opportunities
NWS Training Portal
Play Time for Kids
US Dept of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Weather Service
Chicago, IL
333 West University Drive
Romeoville, IL 60446
815-834-1435 8am-8pm
Comments? Questions? Please Contact Us.
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on YouTube
LOT RSS Feed