Jeff Frame
@vortexjeff.bsky.social
Teaching professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Illinois. I teach weather. Posts are about weather and sometimes sports. Storm chaser. PhD, MS PSU; BS Michigan. All opinions mine.
https://vortexjeff.smugmug.com
https://vortexjeff.smugmug.com
The NCEI NCSS server has been basically inaccessible lately, so I wrote (with a lot of help from ChatGPT) python code to plot soundings from a locally-stored grib2 file with SounderPy
January 13, 2026 at 1:25 AM
The NCEI NCSS server has been basically inaccessible lately, so I wrote (with a lot of help from ChatGPT) python code to plot soundings from a locally-stored grib2 file with SounderPy
Radar image of a band of snow approaching Champaign-Urbana
January 11, 2026 at 1:03 AM
Radar image of a band of snow approaching Champaign-Urbana
This precipitation over central Illinois is mainly rain, but a few snowflakes may mix in on the backside. No accumulation is expected in Champaign-Urbana.
January 10, 2026 at 3:21 PM
This precipitation over central Illinois is mainly rain, but a few snowflakes may mix in on the backside. No accumulation is expected in Champaign-Urbana.
Indiana demolished Oregon 56-22 and is headed to the National Championship Game. Head coach Curt Cignetti is 25-2 since he was hired before the 2024 season. To put this in perspective, the last Indiana coach with a winning record was Bo McMillin from 1934-1947.
January 10, 2026 at 4:24 AM
Indiana demolished Oregon 56-22 and is headed to the National Championship Game. Head coach Curt Cignetti is 25-2 since he was hired before the 2024 season. To put this in perspective, the last Indiana coach with a winning record was Bo McMillin from 1934-1947.
That's a nasty hodograph on last night's sounding from NWS Lincoln, IL. Fortunately, instability was very limited to non-existent.
January 9, 2026 at 12:54 PM
That's a nasty hodograph on last night's sounding from NWS Lincoln, IL. Fortunately, instability was very limited to non-existent.
The second round of storms looks less intense than the first
January 9, 2026 at 3:18 AM
The second round of storms looks less intense than the first
815pm: First round of storms moving into Champaign-Urbana
January 9, 2026 at 2:17 AM
815pm: First round of storms moving into Champaign-Urbana
Three years ago, I chased from Niantic to Maroa, IL, and saw three tornadoes
January 3, 2026 at 10:56 PM
Three years ago, I chased from Niantic to Maroa, IL, and saw three tornadoes
Some non-storm photos from 2025
New Orleans
Virginia waterfall
The Bean in Chicago
Aurora
New Orleans
Virginia waterfall
The Bean in Chicago
Aurora
January 1, 2026 at 4:32 AM
Some non-storm photos from 2025
New Orleans
Virginia waterfall
The Bean in Chicago
Aurora
New Orleans
Virginia waterfall
The Bean in Chicago
Aurora
I can't end 2025 without one more Wellfleet appreciation post
December 31, 2025 at 7:34 PM
I can't end 2025 without one more Wellfleet appreciation post
The severe weather threat for Champaign has ended
December 28, 2025 at 10:35 PM
The severe weather threat for Champaign has ended
Tornado SE of Decatur, IL, is buried in the rain
December 28, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Tornado SE of Decatur, IL, is buried in the rain
These are the storms to watch as they move rapidly eastward across central Illinois this afternoon
December 28, 2025 at 7:13 PM
These are the storms to watch as they move rapidly eastward across central Illinois this afternoon
I'm still out of town for the holidays, so I'm not chasing. For those who are, storms will be moving quickly, at 50-60 mph
December 28, 2025 at 5:41 PM
I'm still out of town for the holidays, so I'm not chasing. For those who are, storms will be moving quickly, at 50-60 mph
Assembled a miniature gingerbread house kit yesterday
December 25, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Assembled a miniature gingerbread house kit yesterday
A meteorologist's Christmas Eve, as is tradition
December 24, 2025 at 7:53 PM
A meteorologist's Christmas Eve, as is tradition
Had a blast with some good friends today!
December 21, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Had a blast with some good friends today!
Looks like a pretty dry pattern for the next week at least
December 19, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Looks like a pretty dry pattern for the next week at least
Is anyone dreaming of a muggy Christmas?
December 19, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Is anyone dreaming of a muggy Christmas?
That tornado looks familiar!
December 19, 2025 at 9:51 PM
That tornado looks familiar!
Unrelated, but this platform still needs work if one can't post a static gif without prompting an error message (click the image if you can't see the error message at the top); I cropped this image for my previous post.
December 19, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Unrelated, but this platform still needs work if one can't post a static gif without prompting an error message (click the image if you can't see the error message at the top); I cropped this image for my previous post.
This watch did not verify, based on preliminary storm reports
December 19, 2025 at 3:43 AM
This watch did not verify, based on preliminary storm reports