UPDATED: Winter Storm Warning in Effect Until 10AM Friday

Heavy snow and intense winds will mean very poor visibility on the roads.

The National Weather Service forecast predicts rain and thunderstorms for the Darien area Thursday afternoon. "A chance of rain and thunderstorms, then rain and possibly a thunderstorm after 4pm. Temperature falling to around 36 by 5pm," the forecast states. Locally, the NWS is based in Romeoville. A second forecast, from the Northern Illinois Storm Chaser Forecasting Facebook page predicts thundersnow. "Intense thundersnow will boost rates and totals over the area," the status states. "Chicago metro could get 3 inches south to 6 north all being blown around by 60 mph winds." The page says the event will be short in duration. A winter storm warning will be in effect until 10 a.m. Friday, the National Weather Service is reporting.  Rain …

• Photos (1)

How to Keep the Power on When Storms Hit

Natural gas generators are sparing homeowners the agony of losing power and their cool during this summer's many storms.

The thunderstorms that left thousands of residents without power this summer have prompted an increase in homeowners to install standby natural gas generators to avoid being left in the dark—and heat—again. Nicor Gas service representatives have noticed since late April, and most recently this month, an uptick in requests for gas meter upgrades to accommodate natural gas generators in DuPage, Lake and western Cook counties, said Nicor Gas spokesperson Richard Caragol.  Local generator dealers agree their business has spiked in the last several weeks because of weather-related power outages in the suburbs, but they are quick to note generator sales and installations have been increasing over the past few years. “We used to do one …

• Photos (2)

About Town

Thanks to a Dry July, Storms Cause No Problems

Yes, water filled some people's yards -- especially those along the DuPage River -- but didn't get into most homes.

While record-setting rains this weekend left thousands in the northern suburbs bailing out their basements, riverbank-dwellers in Plainfield stayed mostly dry. “It actually worked the way it supposed to. The flood plain flooded,” said Karen Rebuehr, one of the founding members of the DuPage River Storm Water-Concerned Group. “Some of us had two or three feet of water in our yards Sunday morning, but water didn’t reach our homes,” she said.  Rebuehr lives on Weller Drive north of Plainfield off Plainfield-Naperville Road between Plainfield and 135th Street. The lack of rain in July left conditions right for sopping up a big rain, she said. “It was dry,” Rebuehr said. “We needed the rain. It came at a good time.” From Friday through Sunday, …

• Photos (2)

Weather Service Issues Tornado Watch

The weather is expected to change this evening with storms and possible tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service.

Sunday started out as a beautiful day with bright sun and blue skies. Those skies have turned darker this afternoon and according to the National Weather Service, DuPage County is under a tornado watch until 10 p.m. Sunday night. A line of storms was heading northeast through Illinois and expected to continue through 6 p.m. with another line of storms to follow, according to the weather service. Thunderstorms are possible and may produce hail, damaging winds and a few tornadoes. In the evening the storms are expected to evolve into a squall line and straight-line winds are possible, according to the National Weather Service. The National Weather Service is forecasting thunderstorms and periodic showers for most of the week with a mostly …

• Photos (1)