Climatological Assessment of Urban Effects on Precipitation: Final Report Part I

published or submitted for publicationis peer reviewedOpe

Annual report to National Science Foundation for Hail Evaluation Techniques Project

National Science Foundation GA-482Ope

Insurance-related Hail Research in Illinois during 1968

published or submitted for publicationis peer reviewedOpe

Radar Operations and Data Collection in Support of Meteorological Research in Northeastern Illinois

published or submitted for publicationis peer reviewedOpe

Summary of 1965 Hail Research in Illinois: Research Report

published or submitted for publicationis peer reviewedOpe

Prediction of Corn and Soybean Yields Using Weather Data

published or submitted for publicationis peer reviewedOpe

Record Winter Storms in Illinois, 1977-1978

The Midwest, including Illinois, experienced in 1977-1978 its most severe winter since weather records began in the early Nineteenth Century. Illinois had a record-breaking number of 18 severe winter storms; 4 such storms is normal. The record winter began with 3 snowstorms in late November and ended with an extremely damaging ice storm in late March. Unusual snow patterns occurred with several storms and they lasted much longer than usual. Weather conditions (low pressure centers) producing many of the storms were more often of Canadian origin than usual, and these lows had lower pressure and moved slower than normal, resulting in higher surface winds and longer lasting and hence more severe storms. Cold temperatures along with frequent snows resulted in record long lasting snow cover with up to 120 days with ≥1 inch cover in northern Illinois and 90 days in southern Illinois. The storms led to 62 deaths and more than 2000 injuries. Utilities, communication systems, and transportation suffered great losses, though railroads benefited with increased use and helicopters and snowmobiles proved valuable in rescue service. Local, state, and federal institutions were beset with enormous and costly problems including care of roads and lost taxable income due to absenteeism.publishedpeer reviewedOpe

Drought

Ope

Climatic change and its impact on food production

Ope

Climatology of High Damaging Wind in Illinois

High winds (in excess of 40 mph) of a non-tornadic origin are a major weather hazard in Illinois, producing more property loss than any other weather hazard and the third greatest weather loss to crops, in all 23% of total property/crop losses due to severe weather. They cause an average of one death per year. High winds data are also important in structural design and wind energy considerations. Although there is a lack of definitive data, historical data from 43 cooperative substations and 6 first order stations, plus recent wind sensor data from two (short- eriod) dense networks and a 10-year sample of recorded wind speed data at one location, were used to develop basic climatological information on high winds in Illinois. The study treats spatial and temporal variations in both averages and extremes to dimensionalize the incidence of days with high winds. Damaging straight line winds peak in the spring and are least frequent in early fall. Summer thunderstorms are the major producers of high winds, but in all other seasons deep low center passages are the major cause. High winds are most frequent in southern Illinois, but more of the extreme events (in excess of 90 mph) occur in northern Illinois. The state has an average of 67 days of high winds a year. Outbreaks tend to cover from 300 to 6000 square miles and are more extensive during the colder half year. High wind events in summer are short-lived, typically less than 5 minutes, but in other seasons last longer having spans of 2 to 4 hours with intermittent gusts.publishedpeer reviewedOpe