Chicago Area Braces for Biggest Storm in Over a Year

As the calendar turns to Thursday, the well talked about winter storm inches closer to the Chicago area! While this storm won't dump as much snow as it is going to in Kansas and Oklahoma, it will still be a significant snowstorm for the Chicago area. This storm has been tracked for over a week and details still can be refined in the hours leading up to the storm. As with any major storm, there a few wild cards to that could boost the snowfall totals in more than predictions at the moment.

At this moment, a Winter Weather Advisory goes into effect for 3-6 inches of snow. The Advisory starts at 9pm and continues until 6pm Friday.  Most of the snow will fall during the overnight hours and will impact the morning rush hour.  Snowfall rates could reach/exceed 1" at times. If Chicago receives more than 2.7" of snow, it will be the biggest storm of the year AND the first 3" snow since last February. The last snow of more than 4" was in January of 2012 when 5.4" fell.  Chicago's seasonal snowfall total stands at 10.9 for the season, but this storm could put a dent in the lackluster snow total! Chicago has not seen a snowfall of over 6" since the Blizzard of 2011.  These totals can still be updated and depending upon where the heaviest snow falls, and the possibility of freezing drizzle due to warm air aloft, could impact snowfall totals.  Either way, all indications are that Chicago will receive it biggest snowfall of the year...and possibly it's ONLY MAJOR Winter Storm as temperatures are expected to climb into the 40s by next week.

As always, check back for more updates on this incoming storm, and "like" the Tadychsphere on Facebook as well!

Spring-like Day Leads to Cold, Snow

Temperatures surged to 52 degrees at O'Hare today and rain moved into the area at around 4pm today and continues at this hour. This spring like day won't last long as temperatures will crash later tonight and rain will change over to a brief period of snow before ending. Snowfall could accumulate up to an inch, especially in areas in north central Illinois. Tomorrow will see highs struggle to reach 20 degrees as a blast of arctic airs settles into the area.  Temperatures will remain cold Wednesday before our next snow system moves in on Thursday!

This snow system on Thursday has been tracked on forecast models since last week, and appeared to be a big storm heading to our area, but the heavy snows appear to remain well west in Nebraska, Iowa, and Colorado. The storm is expected to weaken as it moves into the Chicago area. Right now, around 2-4" is expected but even the slightest movement in the storm track could have a major impact on how much snow we will see from this storm. Stay tuned throughout the week for FULL DETAILS and as always, on the Facebook page as well!

February Continues Cold and Snowy

February's opening days continue to remain snowy...and today was the 5th consecutive day of measurable snowfall at O'Hare!!! After the city woke to 2.7" of snow on Monday morning, a few quick bursts of heavy snow blanketed the area again this morning!!! Chicago's season snowfall now stands at a still very unimpressive 8.7"  We can have one more shot of snow this week before temperatures warm up this weekend.  A much larger weather disturbance is targeting the area late tomorrow night and into Thursday.  With temperatures expected to be above freezing Thursday, the current thinking is that this system will bring a mix of rain, snow, sleet and freezing rain, causing icy conditions and hazardous travel.  However, recent forecast models have seemed to indicate a more snowy and icy storm so only time will tell.  Either way, Thursday could be quite a mess!!

For the remainder today, a few more bursts of snow could develop over the area but accumulations are expected to remain very minimal.  Temperatures will drop into the low teens after climbing into to just a few degrees shy of freezing this afternoon.  Models indicate a return to colder air by the start of next week after this late week warmer!!  Stay tuned for full updates!

Next Clipper Projected to Deliver Biggest Snow of Season

After a clipper system earlier this weekend deliver 2.3" of snow to Chicago, another clipper system is suppose to deliver more snow!! Chicago's seasonal snowfall total stands at 5.8" right now and that total will go up again by the time we wake up Monday morning. A fast moving clipper system is expected to move into the area late tonight.  With the low pressure system passing just to the south of Chicago, the heaviest snow will fall right in line with the metro area, where close to 5" is expected.  This has promoted the National Weather Service to issue a Winter Weather Advisory for Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, Lake, Kane, DuPage and Cook Counties in IL! This advisory goes into effect at 10pm tonight and continues until NOON on Monday! Areas south will see significantly less totals and lake side counties could see slightly more due to some lake effect on Monday morning.  Either way, the Monday morning commute is going to be a mess in the city of Chicago, where the higher amounts are expected to fall.


As for the remainder of today, highs will stay right around 20 degrees with partial clearing and sunshine throughout the day. Clouds move in later as the clipper moves into the area. Stay tuned for full details!!

The 1st of Multiple "Clippers" Drops City's Biggest Snow

Good afternoon! A few snow showers are still affecting certain parts of the area, but those will be moving out of the area within the next 20 minutes or so and should remain snow free for the remainder of the day! Temperatures will remain in the teens at around 17 or 18 degrees.

Snowfall totals are beginning to come in and with snow still falling throughout the morning, expect these numbers to go up a few more tenths of an inch:

Here are snowfall totals as of 7am this morning:

2.0" Chicago-O'Hare
1.7" Chicago-Midway
1.1" NWS-Romeoville

Other area snow totals (as of 7am) include:

3.2" Woodstock
2.7" Elgin
2.6" Oak Park
2.5" Huntley
2.5" Rockford
2.4" Park Ridge
2.3" Elk Grove Village
2.3" Lincolnwood
2.3" Westmont
2.3" Aurora
2.2" Lake Forest
2.0" Barrington
2.0" Oak Lawn
1.9" Elmhurst
1.7" DeKalb
1.7" Gurnee
1.6" Oak Brook
1.5" Bolingbrook
1.3" Joliet
1.0" Lockport

For a full list of snowfall totals, click here: Snowfall Totals Ending at 7am! Check back later for more updates!

Arctic Air Preceded By Several Rounds of Snow

Temperatures rose to just 11 degrees at O'Hare this afternoon, just a few days after a record 63 degrees was recorded on Tuesday.  With wind chills below zero, Chicago was experiencing it's second coldest day of the winter season.  The winter weather will continue when an Alberta Clipper moves into the area after 9pm tonight and could deliver Chicago's largest snowfall of the year.  Being as that the largest snowfall is 1.1", it won't take much to break that record.  However, with a series of clippers moving in the next couple of days, Chicago's 3.5" season total is likely to double, if not, triple by the middle of the week.  Tonight's disturbance will drop a general 1-3" in most areas, with a few areas seeing more.  Snow will continue into the morning and snow showers continue tomorrow before another round of accumulating snow hits Sunday night and Monday as well.

Even though this system won't pack a ton of moisture, the extremely cold temperatures will amount to high snow to water rations and very light fluffy snow that will accumulate quickly.  By tomorrow morning, it may actually look like winter around the Chicago area.  Stay tuned to here and the Tadychsphere Facebook page for the latest weather conditions and snowfall totals!

Welcome Back

Happy February and welcome back to the re-launch of "Tadychsphere", my weather blog, in conjunction with my weather Facebook! Hope you enjoy the new look of my blog. Many new features will continue to be released as time goes on. In the meantime, enjoy the blog and check back frequently for weather updates. This is your one-stop place for things weather!!! Don't forget to check out my weather Facebook page as well by click this link: Tadychsphere, or by clicking on the gadget to the left of this post. Enjoy!

As for today's weather, temperatures will remain bitterly cold, with highs only making it to about 11 degrees and wind chills -10 to -15 below zero!! A clipper system will move into the area late tonight and continue into Saturday morning. This system could be our biggest snow producer of the year, if it drops more than 1.1" at O'Hare!  The season's current snowfall total is 3.5" after Thursday's 0.6".  Check back throughout the day and everyday for full updates!