WEATHER UPDATE: Snowiest 3 Weeks Since 1979; More Snow Coming Sunday
4:30PM FRIDAY, FEB. 19
The National Weather Service Chicago has provided a wonderful recap that puts our recent Active Stretch of Winter Weather in Perspective, while at the same time forecasting more snow on Sunday.
First, the look ahead, then the recap of our three weeks of winter’s “greatest hits.”
Snow on Sunday
A period of accumulating wet snow is expected primarily Sunday (Feb. 21) afternoon and evening, with a window of higher snowfall rates late afternoon into the evening.
Snowfall amounts of 2 inches or more are possible, mainly north of I-80, with the potential for localized amounts up to 4 inches. The precipitation will diminish by around midnight for most of the area, but light snow may continue through the overnight hours.
Continue to monitor for forecast updates this weekend!
Multi-Day Outlook
Tonight there is a chance for light snow with patchy fog/freezing fog possible afterwards as skies clear and temperatures drop.
Looking ahead to Sunday, accumulating wet snow and some travel impacts are expected, with most of the snow occurring during the afternoon and evening.
Temperatures climb back into the 30s next week! Snow and ice melt during the daytimes.
Snowiest 3 Weeks Since 1979
The normal for the entire season is 36.3 inches.
For the Feb. 12-14 snow event, the official snowfall for Chicago was 7.5 inches observed at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. Much of the city of Chicago due to lake effect snow and enhancement to the snow, did see 12 to 18 inches, including long-time NWS Cooperative Observer 3 miles southwest of Chicago Midway International Airport with 17.7 inches.
Winter 2020-2021 Events
- February 14-16, 2021: Heavy snow including lake effect brings a foot plus to all of the city of Chicago; caps off record three weeks
- February 12-13, 2021: Widespread 2-4″ with lake enhanced in northwest Indiana up to 8″
- February 8-9, 2021: Multiple light to moderate snow events bring 2-5″
- February 4-5, 2021: Wind gusts over 40 mph bring widespread blowing snow and whiteout conditions at times
- January 30-31, 2021: Widespread 6-13″ of snow brings Chicago its largest snow event in five years
- January 25-26, 2021: Snow event brings 5 to 8 inches of snow to parts of the I-88 corridor and Chicago
- January 19, 2021: Snow squall moves over part of the Chicago area producing intense snowfall rates
- January 3-5, 2021: Multiple days with rime ice, hoar frost, and “smoke stack” snow
- January 1, 2021: Wintry system brings up to 3″ of snow for the Chicago metro and over 1/4″ of ice accumulation farther south
- December 29-30, 2020: Snow and ice event, with 6″ to 8″ in Winnebago County
- November 24, 2020: First measurable snow of the winter season for many with totals up to 3″
SOURCE: NWS Chicago
