National Weather Service radar shows mayfly swarm in Chicago

[Skywatcher]

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/news/display_cmsstory.php?wfo=lot&storyid=96161&source=0

It is believed that a lake breeze carried these mayflies inland on Saturday evening. Looking at the radar loop from Saturday evening we can see a pronounced lake breeze boundary oriented from northwest to southeast across the western suburbs. Near the end of the loop the boundary begins to dissipate.

[Sailboat]

There are still a few bugs in the system.

[Ranger_Jeff]

I, for one, welcome our new Mayfly Overlords.

Well, hell, you knew someone was going to say it.

[Musicat]

I’m about 300 miles north of the Chicago area. Perhaps I’ll see the mayfly swarm in a few days. We typically have about 2 days of mayflies each year, if any; they blanket the screens and windows, then it’s over.

[N9IWP]

Here in the Mississippi River Valley we get several hatches that are big enough to show up on radar:

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/arx/?n=mayflygeneral

Brian

[johnpost]

bird and insect events can be fairly regular. there are lakes, marshes and other water features where insects will hatch as a group. waterfowl bird migrations will also happen as a group. these might span a few days and be regular within a couple weeks time window every year.

bats will also produce daily radar events.

subtracting these events from raw radar is done after enough history.