Dear Tom,
Could the recent stormy weather in California (heavy rain and mountain snow) be effects from the tsunami in the Indian Ocean? Could Chicago’s weather be affected?
Jamie Curletti
Dear Jamie,
Several readers have asked similar questions, but the concerns are unfounded. Tsunamis are ocean phenomena and their occurrence has no effect on the atmosphere or the weather. It is certainly true that weather systems impacting California can affect Chicago’s weather. Most do. With the exception of southwestern U.S. weather systems that dissipate out there, the upper-air disturbances associated with California storms eventually migrate across the Rockies to the Great Plains. From there, they bring rain or snow to Chicago if they head northeast, or cold, dry conditions here if they push east across the Deep South.
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Tom Skilling is chief meteorologist at WGN-TV. His forecasts can be seen Monday through Friday on WGN-TV News at noon and 9 p.m.
Write to: ASK TOM WHY, 2501 Bradley Pl., Chicago, IL 60618 or asktomwhy@wgntv.com (Mail volume precludes personal response.)
WGN-TV meteorologists Steve Kahn, Richard Koeneman and Paul Dailey plus weather producer Bill Snyder contribute to this page.
