January 30-31, 2026: Lake Effect Snow Event With Significant Accumulations in Porter County, IN

Overview
Snowfall
Radar
Additional Info

Overview

A prolonged lake effect snow event took place in northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana from the morning of January 30th through midday on January 31st.

The bulk of the lake effect snow in northeast Illinois fell from the morning through the early evening of the 30th before the main lake effect snow band shifted into northwest Indiana for the evening and overnight hours into the morning of the 31st.

The peak of this snowfall event occurred in Porter County, IN during the evening on the 30th, when 3+"/hour snowfall rates quickly resulted in significant snowfall accumulations up to 10-11".

Official Snowfall Totals

Chicago O'Hare International Airport: 2.6".

3 miles SW of Chicago Midway International Airport: 0.9".

NWS Chicago Office in Romeoville: 0.6".

Rockford International Airport: Trace.

Snowfall

January 30-31, 2026 Snowfall Map

Map of Approximate Snowfall Totals

Interactive Map of the Latest Snowfall Local Storm Reports

...A LISTING OF THE HIGHEST SNOWFALL REPORTS FROM 1/30-1/31...

Location                     Amount    Time/Date       Provider             

...Illinois...

...Cook County...  
Park Ridge 1 WNW             3.6 in    0800 AM 01/31   COCORAHS 
Chicago-O'Hare Airport       2.6 in    0600 AM 01/31   COCORAHS
Chicago-Garfield Park 2 ENE  2.3 in    0730 PM 01/30   Trained Spotter          
Wheeling 1 NW                2.0 in    0800 AM 01/31   COCORAHS  
Mount Prospect 3 NE          2.0 in    0700 AM 01/31   COCORAHS           

...Lake County...
Riverwoods 1 NE              3.3 in    0700 AM 01/31   COCORAHS             
Highwood                     2.8 in    0700 AM 01/31   COCORAHS             
Buffalo Grove 2 N            2.1 in    0700 AM 01/31   COCORAHS             


...Indiana...

...Lake County...
Gary 6 ENE                   4.5 in    0800 AM 01/31   COCORAHS
Hobart 2.4 SE                3.0 in    0930 AM 01/31   COCORAHS             
Merrillville 1 S             2.9 in    0700 AM 01/31   COCORAHS
Crown Point 1 N              2.5 in    0700 AM 01/31   COOP
Cedar Lake 1 NW              2.0 in    0609 AM 01/31   COCORAHS
Lowell 2 S                   2.0 in    0700 AM 01/31   COOP             

...Porter County...
Dune Acres 1 ESE             11.0 in   0800 AM 01/31   Broadcast Media      
Porter                       10.0 in   0900 AM 01/31   Public               
Porter                       9.7 in    0700 AM 01/31   COCORAHS             
Chesterton                   9.0 in    0800 AM 01/31   Broadcast Media      
South Haven 3 SE             8.0 in    0545 AM 01/31   Trained Spotter      
Chesterton 4 ESE             8.0 in    0700 AM 01/31   COCORAHS             
Valparaiso 1 NNW             7.8 in    0800 AM 01/31   Broadcast Media
Valparaiso 3 NNE             7.5 in    0700 AM 01/31   COCORAHS       
Valparaiso 1 N               7.5 in    0700 AM 01/31   COCORAHS 
Valparaiso 3 W               6.0 in    0840 AM 01/31   COCORAHS 
Valparaiso 3 ENE             5.0 in    0830 AM 01/31   COCORAHS           
Boone Grove 4 NNE            5.0 in    0700 AM 01/31   COCORAHS             
Boone Grove 2 WNW            4.8 in    0900 AM 01/31   COCORAHS
Lakes of the Four Seasons    4.0 in    0900 AM 01/31   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.

$$

Radar

Radar loop from the morning of Friday, January 30 through the afternoon of Saturday, January 31.

Click here for an interactive version of this loop (courtesy of the Iowa Environmental Mesonet).

Additional Information

Links

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Additional event recaps can be found on the NWS Chicago Science & Past Events Page.