Chicago, IL

Weather Forecast Office

February 1-3, 2022: Winter Storm Brings Large 10"+ Footprint and Blowing Snow

Seneca, IL on Wednesday afternoon, February 2. Photo courtesy of Jaime Smith.

Snowfall and ice area from January 31-February 4, most from the same winter system impacting the local area.

Other Recaps: National Northwest IL Central IL Southwest IL Northern IN Central IN

Fast Facts
Snow Totals
Photos
Service
Meteorology
Links

Fast Facts

Snow started in northern Illinois late on the evening of Tuesday, Feb 1, and spread across all of northern Illinois and northwest Indiana before daybreak on the 2nd. This wrapped up in many areas by early evening on the 2nd, although a second wave brought some light additional amounts on Thursday, Feb 3, mainly south of I-80.

Blowing snow was also a major issue, especially for exposed west-to-east roads south of I-80, which resulted in numerous impassable roads in rural areas.

The official snowfall for Chicago was 5.6" observed at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, the largest snowfall total for an event of the 2021-2022 winter up to this point.

The NWS Cooperative Observer located 3 miles southwest of Midway International Airport measured 11.0".

Other snowfall amounts include 10.0" at the NWS Chicago in Romeoville, and 11" to 14" across several southern Chicago suburbs, including into far northwest Indiana. These were the largest snowfall totals in the northern Illinois and northwest Indiana area, including the Chicago metro, since last winter's February 14-16, 2021 event.

A major difference in snowfall amounts occurred from north to south across the area, including across the Chicago metro, with highest amounts south (double digit snowfall totals) and lower north.

Heavy snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour occurred on Wednesday morning, crippling the commute in places including in parts of the Chicago metro.

This event occurred as part of a deep system from the Southern Plains that sent deep moisture northward while a cold front undercut this moisture. Key ingredients of this system were the rising motion and instability aloft (aided by steep lapse rates aloft) especially Wednesday morning when the heaviest snowfall rates occurred.

The sharp gradient in snowfall, including across the Chicago metro, and the higher impact magnitude for Wednesday was fairly well forecast for multiple days in advance.

Snow Totals

Snowfall Map

Snowfall and ice area from Jan 31-Feb 4, most from the same winter system impacting the local area.

Preliminary forecast area observed snowfall map from Feb 1-3.

Preliminary Chicago metro observed snowfall observations from Feb 1-3.

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Chicago IL
940 PM CST Sun Feb 6 2022

Final Snow Totals from the 2/1/2022-2/3/2022 Winter Storm

Location                     Amount    Time/Date       Provider

Illinois

Cook County
Chicago Heights 2 NNW        13.8 in   0900 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Lansing                      12.5 in   0700 AM 02/03   COOP
Burr Ridge 1 ENE             11.2 in   0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Bridgeview 1 NNW             11.0 in   0730 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Homewood                     11.0 in   0600 PM 02/02   Public
Midway 3 SW                  11.0 in   0600 AM 02/03   COOP
Oak Forest 1 N               11.0 in   0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Oak Lawn                     11.0 in   0430 PM 02/02   Trained Spotter
Oak Lawn 0.5 SSW             11.0 in   0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Midlothian                   10.8 in   0338 PM 02/02   Trained Spotter
Homewood                     10.7 in   0455 PM 02/02   Cocorahs
Tinley Park                  10.5 in   0304 PM 02/02   Public
Oak Lawn 2 WNW               10.1 in   0800 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Chicago Ridge                10.0 in   0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Hickory Hills                10.0 in   0600 PM 02/02   Public
Oak Lawn 1 WSW               9.8 in    0745 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Park Forest                  9.8 in    0500 AM 02/03   COOP
Park Forest 1 WNW            9.5 in    0730 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Lakeview - Chicago           9.0 in    0530 PM 02/02   Public
Oak Park                     9.0 in    0251 PM 02/02   Public
Palos Park 1 SW              8.9 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
La Grange                    8.5 in    0800 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
1 SE Logan Square - Chicago  8.4 in    0305 PM 02/02   Public
Oak Park 1 NNE               8.3 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Lincolnwood 2 E              7.8 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
1 N Douglas - Chicago        7.8 in    0230 PM 02/02   NWS Employee
Humboldt Park - Chicago      7.8 in    0350 PM 02/02   Public
Lakeview - Chicago           7.8 in    0500 PM 02/02   Public
Rogers Park 2 SW             7.1 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
1 E Logan Square - Chicago   7.0 in    0125 PM 02/02   Public
Portage Park - Chicago       7.0 in    0530 PM 02/02   Public
Chicago 5.5 NNW              6.7 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
La Grange Park 1 SSW         6.5 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
South Shore - Chicago        6.4 in    0430 PM 02/02   Public
Jefferson Park - Chicago     6.3 in    0300 PM 02/02   Trained Spotter
Harwood Heights              6.1 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Evanston 1 ESE               5.9 in    0800 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Harwood Heights              5.7 in    0400 PM 02/02   Trained Spotter
Ohare Airport                5.6 in    0400 PM 02/02   Official NWS Obs
Franklin Park 0.5 SSE        5.3 in    0800 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Oak Park 1 NNE               5.2 in    0655 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
1 NNE Evanston               5.0 in    0520 PM 02/02   Public
Niles                        5.0 in    0347 PM 02/02   Public
1 WNW Arlington Heights      4.4 in    0130 PM 02/02   Public
Mount Prospect 3 NE          4.3 in    0700 AM 02/04   COCORAHS
Park Ridge 1 WNW             4.2 in    0700 AM 02/04   COCORAHS
1 SW Des Plaines             4.2 in    0430 PM 02/02   Public
1 NE Roselle                 4.1 in    1230 PM 02/02   Public
Elk Grove Village 2 WSW      4.0 in    0700 AM 02/04   COCORAHS
2.0 W Schaumburg             3.9 in    0225 PM 02/02   NWS Employee
Hoffman Estates 1 ESE        3.9 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Hoffman Estates 2 SE         3.8 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Elk Grove Village 1 ESE      3.6 in    0700 AM 02/04   COCORAHS
Schaumburg 1 SE              3.6 in    0700 AM 02/04   COCORAHS
1 NE Palatine                3.4 in    0550 PM 02/02   NWS Employee
Schaumburg 3 WSW             3.5 in    0700 AM 02/04   COCORAHS
Mount Prospect               3.3 in    0630 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Palatine 1 NW                2.9 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Palatine 1 E                 2.1 in    0840 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Palatine 1 NNE               2.1 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Hoffman Estates 5 W          1.6 in    0915 AM 02/03   COCORAHS

De Kalb County
Hinckley                     5.5 in    0600 PM 02/02   Public
De Kalb 3.5 WSW              2.6 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Sycamore                     2.5 in    0600 PM 02/02   Public
Cortland                     2.3 in    0600 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
DeKalb                       2.3 in    0700 AM 02/03   COOP
DeKalb 1 SW                  2.2 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
DeKalb                       2.0 in    0315 PM 02/02   Trained Spotter
Genoa                        2.0 in    0600 PM 02/02   Public
Genoa                        1.5 in    0700 AM 02/03   COOP

DuPage County
Burr Ridge                   10.0 in   0600 PM 02/02   Public
1 NW Westmont                9.0 in    0300 PM 02/02   Public
Downers Grove 2 S            8.8 in    0330 PM 02/02   NWS Employee
Burr Ridge 2 SW              8.3 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Clarendon Hills              8.3 in    0700 AM 02/03   UCOOP
Darien 2 SE                  8.3 in    0745 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Morton Arboretum             8.3 in    0700 AM 02/04   COOP
Naperville 2 SE              8.0 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Bolingbrook 3 NE             7.8 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Elmhurst 2 SE                7.8 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
3 SSE Naperville             7.8 in    0400 PM 02/02   NWS Employee
1 NE Naperville              7.7 in    0301 PM 02/02   Public
Willowbrook                  7.0 in    1245 PM 02/02   Public
Glen Ellyn 4 S               7.0 in    0300 PM 02/02   UCOOP
4 SE Aurora                  6.9 in    0410 PM 02/02   Trained Spotter
Lisle 1 SE                   6.9 in    0700 AM 02/04   COCORAHS
Glen Ellyn 1 W               6.8 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Naperville                   6.8 in    1258 PM 02/02   Public
Wheaton 2 NNE                6.8 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Aurora 4 SE                  6.6 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
2 ESE Warrenville            6.5 in    0400 PM 02/02   Trained Spotter
Lombard                      6.0 in    1200 PM 02/02   Trained Spotter
Wheaton 1 NNW                5.9 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Aurora 3.6 SE                5.8 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Villa Park 1 ESE             5.6 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
West Chicago 3.5 SE          5.5 in    0720 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Winfield 1 ENE               4.8 in    0800 AM 02/03   COCORAHS

Ford County
Gibson City                  13.0 in   0900 AM 02/04   Public
Paxton                       13.0 in   0900 AM 02/04   Public

Grundy County
Minooka                      12.6 in   0800 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Morris                       11.0 in   0600 PM 02/02   Public
Morris 6 ESE                 10.9 in   0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Braceville                   10.5 in   0600 PM 02/02   Public
Coal City                    10.5 in   0115 PM 02/02   Public
Morris 1 NW                  10.0 in   0800 AM 02/03   COOP
Coal City                    9.8 in    0800 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Coal City 4 NNW              9.8 in    0700 AM 02/03   UCOOP
Mazon                        9.7 in    0600 PM 02/02   Public
Mazon 2 SE                   9.0 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Morris 1.5 SW                8.8 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS

Iroquois County
Danforth                     11.5 in   0900 AM 02/04   COCORAHS
Milford 3.5 ENE              10.0 in   0700 AM 02/04   COCORAHS
Ashkum 6 E                   9.0 in    0800 AM 02/04   COCORAHS
Watseka                      9.0 in    0600 PM 02/02   Public

Kane County
Geneva 4 WSW                 6.3 in    0400 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Aurora 2.8 WSW               5.7 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
North Aurora 1.5 NE          5.3 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Aurora 3 WSW                 5.2 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Aurora                       5.0 in    0700 AM 02/03   COOP
Batavia                      5.0 in    0300 PM 02/02   Public
North Aurora                 5.0 in    0500 PM 02/02   Public
Geneva 1.3 SSW               4.6 in    0730 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Elburn                       4.5 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Batavia                      4.3 in    0600 AM 02/03   UCOOP
Batavia 1.5 WNW              4.3 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
St. Charles                  4.0 in    1200 PM 02/02   Broadcast Media
St. Charles                  4.0 in    0800 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Batavia                      3.9 in    0630 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Batavia 3 WSW                3.9 in    0630 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Geneva 1 SSW                 3.8 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Batavia 1 W                  3.5 in    0727 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
South Elgin                  3.5 in    0600 PM 02/02   Public
Geneva 1 NW                  3.4 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Pingree Grove                3.0 in    0600 PM 02/02   Public
Elgin                        2.9 in    0800 AM 02/03   UCOOP
Elgin 1 S                    2.9 in    0800 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Maple Park                   2.5 in    0530 PM 02/02   COCORAHS
Elgin 2.5 W                  2.1 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
St Charles 6 NW              2.0 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Elgin                        1.8 in    0700 AM 02/03   COOP

Kankakee County
Kankakee                     13.0 in   0700 AM 02/03   COOP
Kankakee 1 WSW               11.8 in   0600 AM 02/04   COCORAHS
Kankakee                     11.2 in   0600 PM 02/02   Public
Bradley                      11.0 in   0600 PM 02/02   Public
Herscher                     11.0 in   0600 PM 02/02   Public
Bourbonnais                  10.7 in   0700 AM 02/03   COOP
Grant Park                   10.5 in   0600 PM 02/02   Public
Manteno                      10.0 in   0600 PM 02/02   Public
St. Anne                     9.1 in    0700 AM 02/03   COOP

Kendall County
Oswego 5 SSE                 8.8 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Oswego 2 SSW                 8.5 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Plainfield 5 SW              8.0 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Millbrook                    7.3 in    0141 PM 02/02   Trained Spotter
Montgomery 1 SSE             6.1 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS

La Salle County
Streator 1 WSW              11.6 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Streator                    10.0 in    0700 AM 02/03   COOP
Streator                     9.5 in    0600 PM 02/02   Public
Marseilles                   8.0 in    0641 AM 02/02   Public
Peru 1 ENE                   8.0 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Ottawa 2 N                   7.0 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Marseilles 3 WSW             6.7 in    0800 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
La Salle                     6.5 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Ottawa 1 NW                  6.3 in    0514 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Utica                        6.3 in    0230 PM 02/02   Public

Lake County
Highwood 1 S                 4.5 in    0700 AM 02/04   COCORAHS
Lake Forest 2 NNE            4.1 in    0800 AM 02/04   COCORAHS
1 SSW Deerfield              3.8 in    0144 PM 02/02   Public
Bannockburn 0.5 ESE          3.1 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Buffalo Grove 1.5 N          3.0 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Forest Lake 1 SSW            2.5 in    0700 AM 02/03   UCOOP
Riverwoods                   2.5 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Lake Zurich 1 W              2.0 in    0600 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Mundelein 4 WSW              2.1 in    0700 AM 02/03   COOP
Mundelein 0.5 NNE            1.5 in    0800 AM 02/04   COCORAHS
Mundelein 2 WNW              1.5 in    0730 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Wadsworth 1 S                1.4 in    0900 AM 02/04   COCORAHS
Gurnee 2 W                   1.3 in    0700 AM 02/04   COCORAHS
Antioch                      1.0 in    0600 PM 02/02   Public
Lake Villa 2 WSW             1.0 in    0730 AM 02/02   COCORAHS
Long Lake                    0.8 in    0700 AM 02/02   COCORAHS
Waukegan 2 N                 0.5 in    0800 AM 02/03   COCORAHS

Lee County
Sublette 3 WNW               3.5 in    0730 AM 02/02   COCORAHS
Paw Paw 2 S                  3.2 in    0700 AM 02/03   COOP
Amboy                        2.5 in    0700 AM 02/03   COOP
Amboy 0.5 SSW                2.6 in    0525 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Steward 3 S                  1.5 in    0700 AM 02/02   COOP
Ashton                       1.4 in    0700 AM 02/02   COCORAHS
Sterling 4 NE                0.5 in    0800 AM 02/02   COCORAHS

Livingston County
Pontiac                      12.0 in   0600 PM 02/02   Public
Emington 2 SSE               11.5 in   0600 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Fairbury                     11.0 in   0700 AM 02/03   COOP
Fairbury                     10.5 in   0600 PM 02/02   Public
Chatsworth                   10.0 in   0700 AM 02/03   COOP
Dwight                       10.0 in   0600 PM 02/02   Public
Odell                        10.0 in   0600 PM 02/02   Public

McHenry County
Algonquin 1 N                2.0 in    0545 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Cary                         1.9 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Cary 0.5 SSW                 1.9 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Trout Valley                 1.9 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Huntley                      1.6 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Bull Valley 2.5 WNW          1.1 in    0800 AM 02/02   COCORAHS
McHenry 2 E                  1.1 in    0900 AM 02/02   COCORAHS
Woodstock 4 SW               1.0 in    0800 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Marengo 1 S                  1.0 in    0700 AM 02/02   COCORAHS
Marengo 1 NNW                0.6 in    0700 AM 02/02   COCORAHS
Woodstock 5 NW               0.6 in    0700 AM 02/03   COOP
Hebron 2 WSW                 0.5 in    0700 AM 02/03   UCOOP

Will County
Mokena 1 W                   14.3 in   0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Monee 5 SE                   12.4 in   0800 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Mokena 2 WSW                 11.6 in   0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
New Lenox 1 SE               11.6 in   0600 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
New Lenox 3 E                11.6 in   0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Frankfort                    11.5 in   0600 PM 02/02   Public
Lockport 1 SE                11.5 in   0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Manhattan 1 ESE              11.5 in   0900 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Braidwood                    11.0 in   0245 PM 02/02   Emergency Mngr
1 W Crest Hill               11.0 in   0417 PM 02/02   Public
Elwood                       11.0 in   0510 PM 02/02   Public
Crest Hill                   10.8 in   0430 PM 02/02   Trained Spotter
Joliet                       10.8 in   0400 PM 02/02   Trained Spotter
Manhattan 5 ENE              10.8 in   0800 AM 02/03   COOP
Peotone                      10.8 in   0700 AM 02/03   COOP
Channahon                    10.7 in   0600 PM 02/02   Public
Homer Glen 1 NNE             10.4 in   0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Plainfield 2 SSE             10.4 in   0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
New Lenox 2 ESE              10.3 in   0800 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
NWS Chicago-Romeoville       10.0 in   0400 PM 02/02   Official NWS Obs
Steger                       10.0 in   0300 PM 02/02   Trained Spotter
Wilmington                   10.0 in   0600 PM 02/02   Public
Joliet Brandon Road Lock     9.5 in    0600 AM 02/03   COOP
Bolingbrook 1 SW             9.0 in    0954 AM 02/02   COCORAHS
Joliet 2 N                   9.0 in    0700 AM 02/03   UCOOP
Plainfield                   9.0 in    0110 PM 02/02   Public
Naperville 4 SE              8.5 in    0600 PM 02/02   COCORAHS
Naperville 3 SSW             8.3 in    0900 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Crete 3 E                    8.2 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
4 SSW Naperville             8.0 in    0322 PM 02/02   Trained Spotter
2 W Bolingbrook              7.8 in    0400 PM 02/02   Public
2 NW Plainfield              7.3 in    0356 PM 02/02   NWS Employee
Naperville 4 SSW             6.3 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS

Winnebago County
Rockford Airport             0.1 in    0600 AM 02/02   Official NWS Obs

Indiana

Jasper County
Remington                    14.0 in   0800 AM 02/04   COCORAHS
Rensselaer 6 SE              12.3 in   0700 AM 02/04   COCORAHS
Rensselaer 2 SW              10.5 in   0730 AM 02/04   COOP
Rensselaer 2 SSW             9.9 in    0600 AM 02/04   COCORAHS
DeMotte 1 NNW                9.7 in    0600 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
DeMotte 1 SSW                9.0 in    0800 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
De Motte 6 S                 8.0 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
DeMotte 4 SW                 7.1 in    0700 AM 02/04   COCORAHS

Lake County
St. John 3 SE                13.0 in   0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Hobart 2 SE                  13.0 in   0940 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Crown Point                  12.9 in   0830 AM 02/03   COOP
Crown Point 1 N              12.6 in   0830 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Cedar Lake                   12.5 in   0420 PM 02/02   Trained Spotter
Gary 5 ENE                   11.8 in   0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
1 WNW Dyer                   11.2 in   0600 PM 02/02   Cocorahs
Dyer                         11.2 in   0600 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Crown Point                  11.0 in   0700 PM 02/02   Public
Dyer                         11.0 in   0100 PM 02/02   Public
Lowell                       11.0 in   0700 PM 02/02   Public
Lowell 3 NNW                 10.5 in   0800 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
St. John                     9.2 in    0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS

Newton County
5 N Morocco                  11.0 in   0217 PM 02/02   Public
Morocco                      10.0 in   0600 AM 02/03   COOP
Mount Ayr 2 NNE              7.4 in    0845 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Kentland                     7.0 in    0250 PM 02/02   Trained Spotter

Porter County
Beverly Shores 1 W           14.7 in   0800 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Chesterton 4 ESE             14.0 in   0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
1 NE South Haven             13.5 in   0814 PM 02/02   Public
Valparaiso 2 NW              13.5 in   1000 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Valparaiso 1 NNW             12.0 in   0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Valparaiso 2 WSW             11.5 in   0200 PM 02/03   COCORAHS
Porter 1 S                   11.1 in   0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Valparaiso 2 NW              10.6 in   0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Valparaiso 2 WNW             10.5 in   0700 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
3 NNW Valparaiso             10.4 in   0440 PM 02/02   Trained Spotter
1 ESE Valparaiso             10.0 in   1140 AM 02/02   Trained Spotter
Portage 2 NNW                9.9 in    0530 AM 02/03   COCORAHS
Hebron 4 NE                  9.5 in    0800 AM 02/03   COCORAHS

Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying
equipment and exposures. We thank all volunteer weather observers
for their dedication. Not all data listed are considered official.

Photos


Valparaiso, IN on the morning of Wednesday, February 2. Photo courtesy of Mark Meyer.	South Shore area of Chicago at 4:30 P.M. on the afternoon of Wednesday, February 2. Photo courtesy of Michael Galindo.


Kankakee, IL from the afternoon on Wednesday, February 2. Photo courtesy of Miguel Baeza.	Lemont, IL late afternoon on Wednesday, February 2. Photo courtesy of Linda Elizabeth.	Northwest Indiana on the afternoon of Wednesday, February 2. Photo courtesy of Joe Pantuso.

Service

The below graphics are NWS Chicago Weather Stories issues leading up to the event. These were not the only Weather Story graphics issued pertaining to the forecast event, with others including forecast timelines and safety recommendations. One can find our current Weather Stories here.


Saturday, January 29 A.M. Weather Story	Sunday, January 30 A.M. Weather Story	Sunday, January 30 P.M. Weather Story


Monday, January 31 A.M. Weather Story for Feb 1 night-Feb 2	Monday, January 31 A.M. Weather Story for Feb 2 night-Feb 3


Monday, January 31 P.M. Weather Story for Feb 1 night-Feb 2	Monday, January 31 P.M. Weather Story for Feb 2 night-Feb 3


Tuesday, February 1 A.M. Weather Story for Feb 1 night-Feb 2	Tuesday, February 1 A.M. Weather Story for Feb 2 night-Feb 3

Meteorology

February 2, 5:30-9:00 A.M. CST radar loop showing banded very heavy snowfall progressing through the Chicago metro and adjacent areas. This was during the morning commute and caused major travel impacts.

February 2, 9 A.M. CST weather balloon data plot (sounding) from Valparaiso University's Meteorology Department. This sounding reveals a deeply saturated profile sufficiently cold enough for snow. In addition, this saturated profile and the steep lapse rates (for conditionally unstable parcels) was through the dendritic growth zone for efficient snowflake production and growth. Finally, the strong winds noted aloft (above 400 mb) were signs of a strong upper jet maximum that assisted in broad scale lift for precipitation.

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