2/3-2/4 Southern Lakes/Ohio Valley Winter Storm...

[DominicR]

White -Out conditions here folks. Snowfall rates of at least 2 to 3 inches an hr. and have received so far 6.4inches and still counting. Drifts as high as over a foot. Incredible out there right now. I am surprised that Im still under a Winter Weather Advisory. This should be a Winterstorm WARNING.

 

Chicago not the only one. Looks like parts of Detroit will end up getting crushed. Prehaps by the time it all ends 10+ I can see another 3-4 hrs of light-mod snow on top of what you got right now prob around 8-9 inches now?

[bud2380]

I'd say 3 or 3.5" too hard to measure with the drifting so that is my best guess. At no point would I say we got moderate snow. Just 18 consecutive hours of very light snow

[bud2380]

Quad cities airport reported 6.1" on .25" liquid. 24:1 ratio

[DominicR]

Not sure how accurate these totals are people posting on NWS Chicago fb but reports of:

 

7.5 inches Crystal Lake

10.1" Northbrook, IL

7" in Merrionette Park

7 Downers Grove

 

I posted some of the highest totals. Most were between 4-6 inches. I think ORD will make it to around 6 inches with total snow. I cashed out a little over 6 inches.

[DominicR]

This is now the 5th-snowiest winter in Chicago history. (Dec-Feb)

[Scott26]

Not sure how accurate these totals are people posting on NWS Chicago fb but reports of:

 

7.5 inches Crystal Lake

10.1" Northbrook, IL

7" in Merrionette Park

7 Downers Grove

 

I posted some of the highest totals. Most were between 4-6 inches. I think ORD will make it to around 6 inches with total snow. I cashed out a little over 6 inches.

Why are the reports at Northbrook always so much higher than everybody else's? lol

[Niko]

Chicago not the only one. Looks like parts of Detroit will end up getting crushed. Prehaps by the time it all ends 10+ I can see another 3-4 hrs of light-mod snow on top of what you got right now prob around 8-9 inches now?

Dom...8.2inches and still coming down moderately to heavy at times. Visibilities are very low where this morning it was down to near zero at times. Total whiteout conditions indeed. Drifts are huge (1-2feet at spots). Its a winter wonderland out there.

[FV-Mike]

very suprised by how this storm turned out. 6.5 imby.

[Geos]

Why are the reports at Northbrook always so much higher than everybody else's? lol

 

LES I think. Commute was 50 minutes instead of 30 minutes. Salt spreaders definitely have mixed sand in to help with the salt shortage in the region.

 

Up to 6" here in Racine.

 

 

0643 AM SNOW 2 WSW RACINE 42.72N 87.82W

02/05/2014 M5.7 INCH RACINE WI TRAINED SPOTTER

 

[winterfreak]

I would say 14 inches but there's 15" and even 16" in spots. Also have some ungodly huge drifts. Current temp is 4 with a 12mph NW wind.

[DominicR]

Dom...8.2inches and still coming down moderately to heavy at times. Visibilities are very low where this morning it was down to near zero at times. Total whiteout conditions indeed. Drifts are huge (1-2feet at spots). Its a winter wonderland out there.

 

So I can see another 1-3 inches. That NAM run nailed your area yesterday if you remember I was 10+ there Werent you only forecasted 3-5 inches?

[ChiTownWeather]

This storm real turned out great for my area, always love the overachievers. 6 inches IMBY with some light snow and a lake effect band that may run through later this morning. The NAM nailed this storm being the only one even showing 6+ in the area. NAM deserves more recognition, its accuracy this season has been great

[Niko]

So I can see another 1-3 inches. That NAM run nailed your area yesterday if you remember I was 10+ there Werent you only forecasted 3-5 inches?

You are absolutely correct. I was forecasted 3-5inches and forecasters were saying suburbs of Detroit are looking more at 3 and 5 near Detroit. Big time bust! Im approaching 9inches Dom. The Nam did a great job. I remember yesterday morning, my forecaster said: "The Nam is screaming high numbers for the area, but we are not going to count it since its the only model forecasting them". That model was calling for 8"+ totals and they came true. Very pleased with this storm once again this winter. This winter as of now I am standing at 64.1inches thus far. Incredible!

[dubuque473]

Definitely the year of Chicago and NAM lol

[Sciascia]

Bad conditions out there. City plow drivers told not to lower blades all the way and only lay down salt if they see cars spinning. So take caution.

[Geos]

Definitely the year of Chicago and NAM lol

 

Lol!

---

 

LES dumping along the Racine lakefront right now. Once it pulls out, things are going to calm down quickly. Not much a couple miles west of here.

 

@ Sciascia - Why not lower the blades all the way? What does that do?

[Sciascia]

Lol!

---

 

LES dumping along the Racine lakefront right now. Once it pulls out, things are going to calm down quickly. Not much a couple miles west of here.

 

@ Sciascia - Why not lower the blades all the way? What does that do?

Idk. Just reporting what I've heard. Winter's only half over & they already can't use salt except in certain cases? Gonna be an interesting 2nd half. Wonder how this will look on Rahm come election time.

[Yerf]

More snowfall reports. blog.chicagoweathercenter.com I measured just over 5 inches

[snowman1]

7.0" IMBY. The call was 4 to 6 along and south of I80 so we even over performed here. How about totals from southern IL?

[Geos]

Picture from Racine where the LES is.

 

[gabel23]

This storm has quit the surprise, I ended up with 4". Caught these sun dogs this morning. 

[Geos]

Those are some of the best sun dogs I've seen. 

 

LES pulling out up here. Skies are brightening up.

[BrianJK]

LES coming down nicely here

[Tom]

I would say I'm sitting at right around 8.0" over here, hard to measure with the drifting.  Sitting underneath that LES band and probably pick up an additional 0.5".  I'm not sure why LOT didn't upgrade to a WSW when at the height of the storm it was snowing 0.5"/1" per hour or more.  Very surprised we got soo much snow from this system.  These dynamic systems of so tricky to forecast.  Not sure why LOT down played the LES as there was enough open water to consider it as a player with this storm.  All you need is about 75-100 miles or more of open water to get good LES.  Lake Erie is not a big lake and when they have northerly winds it only crosses about 50 miles of open water when its not frozen over.  I'll take some pics soon.

[DominicR]

Mod LES right now.

[BLIZZARD09]

Only downside to thos storm is it was another midnight to 6 special.. Would be nice to be able to see these things in action

[jaster220]

Dom...8.2inches and still coming down moderately to heavy at times. Visibilities are very low where this morning it was down to near zero at times. Total whiteout conditions indeed. Drifts are huge (1-2feet at spots). Its a winter wonderland out there.

 

Congrats over there nikos!

 

So I can see another 1-3 inches. That NAM run nailed your area yesterday if you remember I was 10+ there Werent you only forecasted 3-5 inches?

 

Forecast Mission FAIL for LOT, GRR, DTX!! (again sadly)  Ma Nature giving a beat-down on those three offices. Only IWX (hype office, right??) had a clue with WSWatch and Warnings posted.

[ChicagoToSeattle]

You know it's a great snow year when ORD hits the monthly snow averages by the 5th of a month. Jealous that the winter I move away is the winter that resembles the old school winters I remember well. Onward to 90 inches

[Geos]

Pretty much shut off now. Breezy with snow blowing off the roofs at work.

[ChicagoToSeattle]

PS-- the model handling aside from the NAM for this one was whack. The GGEM early in sniffed one out but otherwise the NAM was the only one to be close. Will be interesting to do a post-mortem to understand why they had this one so off?

[Sciascia]

ORD hit 6" and at 58.6" on the season!

 

MDW 6.6" & 62.1", respectively.

[dubuque473]

Looks like the record for Chicago is 1978-79 at 89.7"

 

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lot/winter/chi_snow_statistics.php

 

You guys only need about 3 more feet for the record!

[winterfreak]

The EURO was pretty bad too in my opinion. The NAM was right on the money with the GFS not far behind. We finally got a spread the wealth type storm. Will never forget this.

[Geos]

Here is all of Chicago's winters that have been over 60".

 

78-79: 89.7"

77-78: 82.3"

69-70: 77.0"

66-67: 68.4"

51-52: 66.4"

17-18: 64.1"

07-08: 60.3"

 

Good chance to get into 4th place I believe.

[DominicR]

Looks like the record for Chicago is 1978-79 at 89.7"

 

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lot/winter/chi_snow_statistics.php

 

Will need another couple of big dingers to break or tons more of these mod systems to  break that. Still got rest of Feb and March to go but after early March it decreases significantly so time is starting to get there. I do think we will hit the 70s at least. Remarkable winter and must be enjoyed because next season back to DBQ-Madsion specials.

[Jaycee]

Ended up with 4" here, haha, we just can't beat you guys, even when the models are in our favor.

[Niko]

Still snowing likely and currently have 10.3inches. Funny they still have me under a Winter Weather Advisory. Wish I knew what they are smoking. Anyhow, beautiful storm.

[Tom]

ORD and Midway both hit 6.9"...59.4" Total so far for the season

[Sleather]

We got around 4.5" in Plainfield, IL. That was pretty much as predicted via SREF. Some model groups were a little higher/lower. SREF either doesn't know about lake effect or handles it very poorly. Plainfield is too far out to get hit with lake effect much. 2hr drive to work this morning (13miles). Nobody wants to lay salt down anymore so a minor snow really snarls things up. Hope I55 is cleaned up by this afternoon.

[gabel23]

Here is all of Chicago's winters that have been over 60".

 

78-79: 89.7"

77-78: 82.3"

69-70: 77.0"

66-67: 68.4"

51-52: 66.4"

17-18: 64.1"

07-08: 60.3"

 

Good chance to get into 4th place I believe.

That is crazy, back to back winters with snowfall in the mid to upper 80's!! The most Lincoln or Omaha has had in a season is 60, then the following year was sucky. I couldn't imagine living in the 70's and receiving that much snow fall.