The whole area is under a Flash Flood Watch until tomorrow morning. Rain is approaching from the SW, and the heaviest rain will arrive after sunset into the early AM. Another 1-2" of rain can't be ruled out, with higher amounts in certain locations. After some places -- particularly in the northern suburbs -- saw 3" or more of rain last night the ground is already saturated and the flooding risk is elevated.
The good news is that the rain should clear out tomorrow morning. The temps should climb into the 60s with a drier north wind and some sunshine. Sunday looks really nice with sun and temps near 70.
In other news, I've had more questions about El Niño -- or El Grande Niño as this one is being called -- and the effects on our weather. The answer remains that El Niño looks like to persist if not strengthen into the winter, and that usually correlates with a mild winter in Chicago. But the correlation is not perfect, and this year's El Niño is being affected by "The Blob" -- a massive layer of warm water in the North Pacific. See below if you want to read more.
So, we're still favored for a much wilder winter this year than the prior two just based on reversion to the mean -- those were two pretty harsh winters. And the building El Niño gives us a further likelihood of a mild winter. But it's too early to write that in stone, and The Blob may well throw a monkey wrench into the system.
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