More than 14” buries Chicago’s northern suburbs while lower totals (2-4”) blanket the Chicago proper
Far southern suburbs only grazed by storm’s flurries
Winter's latest snowstorm is finally winding down after producing whiteout conditions much of the day across Chicago's northwest and northern suburbs. Through 4 p.m., snow totals have reached and, in some areas, exceeded 14 inches from sections of northeast Iowa east across Galena, Rockford and into Lake and McHenry counties in northern Illinois north into southern Wisconsin.
While our Frank Wachowski reports just 1.9 inches is down at Midway Airport, 3.7 inches has fallen at O’Hare (the snow's still falling so we expect these tallies to rise modestly). Arlington Heights’ snow tally has reached 10 inches, and Mundelein's been hit with 9.4 inches of the heavy wet snow.
But, the heaviest amounts of all fell in the counties adjacent to and north of the Illinois/Wisconsin line. Totals there range from nearly 14 inches at Rockford and 13.9 inches at Beach Park (near Waukegan) to an estimated 16 inches near Winthrop Harbor.
Our WGN-TV observers indicate they've had to plow driveways and sidewalks as many as four times today alone to clear the snowfall. Visibilities from Arlington Heights north into southern Wisconsin have frequently dropped to 1/4 mile or less. One caller from Russell in northern Lake County told me he couldn't see his neighbor's home next door earlier this afternoon and advised no one travel up that way!
A note of caution -- this is heavy, high water-content snow -- what's been referred to as “heart-attack” snow. Shovel with care!
Enjoy these photos sent to us from Antioch, Illinois by Carl Frystak! THANKS Carl for sending them along!
--By Tom Skilling, WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist
Photos courtesy: Carl Frystak
The snow scene in northwest suburban Arlington Heights
Our friend Curt Renz shares this photo with us taken around 4:45 p.m. Wednesday afternoon at North School Park in Arlington Heights. Thanks Curt!
Photo courtesy: Curt Renz