Record flood-producing rainstorms of 17-18 July 1996 in the Chicago metropolitan area : part I[,] synoptic and mesoscale features /

By:

Changnon, Stanley A

Contributor(s):

Kunkel, Kenneth E [aut]

Material type: Text

TextSeries: Wetmore Collection | Boston, Mass. American Meteorological Society 1999Description: 9 pages : illustrations ; 28 cmContent type:

text

Media type:

unmediated

Carrier type:

volume

ISBN:

0813326206 (paperback alk. paper)
0813326192 (hardcover alk. paper)

Subject(s):

DDC classification:

20 363.3/493/097709049

LOC classification:

GB1399.4.M72 G74 1996

Other classification:

VF WTHR.090.b.e.c.02.013 ChaS.1 1999 ASFPM

Online resources:

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Summary: ABSTRACT A unique rainstorm in northern Illinois produced 43 cm of precipitation in mid-July 1996, the highest 24-h precipitation amount ever recorded officially in the upper Midwest. Rains exceeding 20 cm fell over an area of 4400 km², creating extremely damaging flash floods in portions of Chicago and its suburbs. Measurements from 496 rain gauges, including 80 recording gauges in the heavy rain area, made it possible to accurately define this storm. The heavy rains were the result of two massive mesoscale convective systems, one in the afternoon and one at night. These systems formed to the north of a nearby stationary warm front. Several factors contributed to the excessive rainfall. Excessive moisture was present to the southwest of the warm front over Iowa and western Illinois; atmospheric moisture content was enhanced by surface evaporation from a very wet surface created by heavy rains the previous day, creating a conditionally unstable atmosphere. A cool air mass transported by easterly winds off Lake Michigan strengthened and slowed the movement of the warm front. A low-level jet oriented perpendicular to the warm front resulted in rising motion north of the warm front. These factors (instability, moisture availability, lifting mechanism) combined to form intense storms. This paper, the first of a three-part series, describes the storm in detail, including its morphology and causes, and the resulting rainfall distributions.

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Item type	Current library	Collection	Call number	Status	Date due	Barcode	Item holds
Books	ASFPM Library	Wetmore Collection	VF WTHR.090.b.e.c.02.013 ChaS.1 1999 ASFPM (Browse shelf(Opens below))	Available

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Previous	VF WTHR.090 IBHS 199u ASFPM Protect your home against tornado damage [brochure] /	VF WTHR.090.b.e.c.02.006 McCJ 1979 ASFPM Storm and flood of July 31-August 1, 1976, in the Big Thompson River and Cache la Poudre River Basins, Larimer and Weld Counties, Colorado /	VF WTHR.090.b.e.c.02.013 AngJ 1999 ASFPM Record flood-producing rainstorms of 17-18 July 1996 in the Chicago metropolitan area : part II[,] hydrometeorological characteristics of the rainstorms /	VF WTHR.090.b.e.c.02.013 ChaS.1 1999 ASFPM Record flood-producing rainstorms of 17-18 July 1996 in the Chicago metropolitan area : part I[,] synoptic and mesoscale features /	VF WTHR.090.b.e.c.02.013 ChaS.2 1999 ASFPM Record flood-producing rainstorms of 17-18 July 1996 in the Chicago metropolitan area : part III[,] impacts and responses to the flash flooding /	WRMT.10.ASFPM2010 Before the council on environmental quality: Proposed national objectives, principles, and standards for water and related resources implementation studies, Comments of the Association of State Floodplain Managers	WRMT.10.ASFPM2011 National Flood Insurance Program : Community Floodplain Management Regulations Review Checklist /	Next

Includes bibliographical references.

Staff.

ABSTRACT A unique rainstorm in northern Illinois produced 43 cm of precipitation in mid-July 1996, the highest 24-h precipitation amount ever recorded officially in the upper Midwest. Rains exceeding 20 cm fell over an area of 4400 km², creating extremely damaging flash floods in portions of Chicago and its suburbs. Measurements from 496 rain gauges, including 80 recording gauges in the heavy rain area, made it possible to accurately define this storm. The heavy rains were the result of two massive mesoscale convective systems, one in the afternoon and one at night. These systems formed to the north of a nearby stationary warm front. Several factors contributed to the excessive rainfall. Excessive moisture was present to the southwest of the warm front over Iowa and western Illinois; atmospheric moisture content was enhanced by surface evaporation from a very wet surface created by heavy rains the previous day, creating a conditionally unstable atmosphere. A cool air mass transported by easterly winds off Lake Michigan strengthened and slowed the movement of the warm front. A low-level jet oriented perpendicular to the warm front resulted in rising motion north of the warm front. These factors (instability, moisture availability, lifting mechanism) combined to form intense storms. This paper, the first of a three-part series, describes the storm in detail, including its morphology and causes, and the resulting rainfall distributions.

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