National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Fresh Snow and Temperature Outlook Ahead of Christmas Day

If you are looking for fresh snow by Christmas morning or are curious about potential travel disruptions, the best chances for at least 1" of new snowfall early this week exist across the mountainous West, Great Lakes, and Northeast. Otherwise, temperatures this last full week of December will average above normal for much of the lower 48 states. Read More >

Recap of the February 23rd-24th, 2012 Snowfall

 

     A fairly long duration snow was seen across far northern Illinois from the late afternoon on the 23rd through the morning of the 24th.  The surface low pressure center of this system actually passed well to our south, but the upper level low, strong mid-level winds and the associated favorable dynamics, and even some elevated instability passed over the area. 

    Snow began in the afternoon of the 23rd across northern Illinois, at times falling as very large and wet aggregate flakes.  This would change back to rain or drizzle in many areas, except for much of McHenry and Lake Counties, where the precipitation type generally remained as snow into the night.  A radar image of the initial snow band during the late afternoon can be seen below.

 

Feb 23rd Radar

   

    As the upper level low pressure approached, precipitation spread back east and south across almost the entire area.  With the cooling atmosphere, this would mainly be all snow through much of the overnight and into early morning on the 24th.  At times this was moderate in intensity, and such an area can be seen in the radar image below across Lake and northern Cook County, as well as Kane into DeKalb Counties.  Lightning was reported in Boone County a few hours prior to this.

 

Feb 24th Radar

 

 

Visible Satellite Image of the Snow Cover from February 25th

Visible Satellite Picture

 

 


 

Snowfall Totals

Local Snowfall Map

 

NWS Cooperative Observer Precipitation Amounts (Liquid Equivalents)

Regional Snowfall Map

Precipitation Reports

Regional Snowfall Map

 

NWS Cooperative and CoCoRaHS Snowfall Reports

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO IL
1000 AM CST FRI FEB 24 2012

...MORNING SNOWFALL ROUNDUP...

   THE FOLLOWING ARE SNOW AMOUNTS FOR THE PREVIOUS 24-HOURS.
   OBSERVATIONS ARE USUALLY TAKEN AT 7 AM.

   REPORTS FROM NWS COOPERATIVE OBSERVERS AND COCORAHS
   OBSERVERS.


   24-HOUR SNOWFALL AMOUNTS FOR FRIDAY(02/24/12)...


NORTHERN ILLINOIS                              SNOW
  LOCATION (COUNTY):                           FALL(INCHES)

  BULL VALLEY 2WNW (MCHENRY)....................9.3
  CARY 2NE (MCHENRY)............................8.5
  MUNDELEIN (LAKE)..............................8.2
  LAKE ZURICH (LAKE)............................8.0
  WOODSTOCK 5NW (MCHENRY).......................7.8
  GURNEE 2W (LAKE)..............................7.5
  ROCKTON 1ESE (WINNEBAGO)......................7.5
  MARENGO (MCHENRY).............................7.5
  SPRING GROVE 2N (MCHENRY).....................7.5
  GENOA (DE KALB)...............................7.3
  GURNEE 2NE (LAKE).............................7.3
  HARVARD (MCHENRY).............................7.0
  LAKE VILLA 1SSW (LAKE)........................7.0
  HAWTHORN WOODS 1N (LAKE)......................7.0
  BEACH PARK 1W (LAKE)..........................6.7
  WAUCONDA (LAKE)...............................6.7
  BELVIDERE (BOONE).............................6.5
  HOFFMAN ESTATES 5W (COOK).....................6.5
  HUNTLEY 4W (MCHENRY)..........................6.5
  INVERNESS 2S (COOK)...........................6.4
  ROSCOE 2ESE (WINNEBAGO).......................6.1
  ROSCOE 2SE (WINNEBAGO)........................6.1
  BARRINGTON (LAKE).............................5.9
  PALATINE 1E (COOK)............................5.9
  ST. CHARLES 6NW (KANE)........................5.6
  RIVERWOODS (LAKE).............................5.5
  LAKEMOOR 2SE (LAKE)...........................5.5
  BYRON 3N (OGLE)...............................5.3
  LINCOLNSHIRE 1N (LAKE)........................5.2
  ELGIN (KANE)..................................5.1
  CRYSTAL LAKE (MCHENRY)........................5.0
  MOUNT MORRIS (OGLE)...........................4.9
  WAUKEGAN 2N (LAKE)............................4.8
  ROCKFORD (WINNEBAGO)..........................4.8
  ROCKFORD 4NW (WINNEBAGO)......................4.8
  CORTLAND (DE KALB)............................4.6
  ST CHARLES (KANE).............................4.5
  ELGIN (KANE)..................................4.4
  BOTANIC GARDENS (COOK)........................4.3
  GENEVA 1SSW (KANE)............................4.3
  DE KALB (DE KALB).............................4.2
  WINFIELD (DU PAGE)............................4.2
  SCHAUMBURG  2E (COOK).........................4.1
  ELBURN (KANE).................................4.0
  NORTH AURORA 2NE (KANE).......................4.0
  ASHTON (LEE)..................................4.0
  ROCKFORD 1NW (WINNEBAGO)......................4.0
  SHABBONA (DE KALB)............................4.0
  HANOVER PARK 2SSW (DU PAGE)...................3.8
  ELK GROVE VILLAGE 1ESE (COOK).................3.6
  ST CHARLES 7NW (KANE).........................3.2
  NAPERVILLE 1NW (DU PAGE)......................3.1
  BATAVIA 2WNW (KANE)...........................3.1
  BATAVIA (KANE)................................3.0
  ELK GROVE VILLAGE 2WSW (COOK).................3.0
  PAW PAW (LEE).................................3.0
  LOMBARD 1NNW (DU PAGE)........................2.8
  SHERIDAN (LA SALLE)...........................2.8
  MENDOTA 1N (LA SALLE).........................2.8
  SUGAR GROVE 1NE (KANE)........................2.7
  CAROL STREAM (DU PAGE)........................2.6
  OHARE (COOK)..................................2.6
  LISLE MORTON ARB (DU PAGE)....................2.6
  WESTMONT 1SSE (DU PAGE).......................2.5
  DOWNERS GROVE 2SE (DU PAGE)...................2.5
  MARSEILLES 6WNW (LA SALLE)....................2.5
  LA SALLE (LA SALLE)...........................2.4
  YORKVILLE 2SE (KENDALL).......................2.4
  LINCOLNWOOD 2E (COOK).........................2.3
  WEST CHICAGO (DU PAGE)........................2.2
  MONTGOMERY 1SSE (KENDALL).....................2.2
  YORKVILLE 1NE (KENDALL).......................2.2
  BATAVIA 1WNW (KANE)...........................2.1
  OAK PARK 1NNE (COOK)..........................2.0
  MENDOTA (LA SALLE)............................2.0
  SENECA 2SSW (LA SALLE)........................1.8
  OAK PARK 2S (COOK)............................1.5
  LA GRANGE PARK 1SSW (COOK)....................1.5
  LISLE (DU PAGE)...............................1.5
  OSWEGO 5SSE (KENDALL).........................1.5
  OTTAWA 2N (LA SALLE)..........................1.5
  BURR RIDGE 2SW (DU PAGE)......................1.2
  HOMER GLEN 1ENE (WILL)........................1.2
  PLAINFIELD (WILL).............................1.2
  COUNTRYSIDE 1ENE (COOK).......................1.0
  AURORA 4SE (DU PAGE)..........................1.0
  HOMER GLEN 4WNW (WILL)........................1.0
  PLAINFIELD 1SW (WILL).........................1.0
  MIDWAY 3SW (COOK).............................1.0
  OTTAWA (LA SALLE).............................1.0
  ROMEOVILLE (WILL).............................0.9
  NEWARK (KENDALL)..............................0.9
  OTTAWA 1NW (LA SALLE).........................0.8
  MARSEILLES (LA SALLE).........................0.8
  MANHATTAN 5ENE (WILL).........................0.7
  JOLIET 2N (WILL)..............................0.7
  MANHATTAN (WILL)..............................0.7
  MARSEILLES 3NW (LA SALLE).....................0.6
  NEW LENOX 2SE (WILL)..........................0.6
  BRIDGEVIEW 1NNW (COOK)........................0.5
  CHICAGO 6ESE (COOK)...........................0.5
  ORLAND HILLS 1S (COOK)........................0.5
  MINOOKA (GRUNDY)..............................0.5
  AMBOY (LEE)...................................0.5
  COAL CITY 4NNW (GRUNDY).......................0.4
  CHICAGO RIDGE (COOK)..........................0.4
  WORTH (COOK)..................................0.4
  JOLIET 1.1N (WILL)............................0.4
  COAL CITY (GRUNDY)............................0.3
  CRETE 3E (WILL)...............................0.3
  ROCHELLE (OGLE)...............................0.3
  BURNHAM-HEGEWISCH 2NNW (COOK).................0.2
  MONEE (WILL)..................................0.2
  PEOTONE (WILL)................................0.1
  PEOTONE (WILL)................................0.1
  STREATOR (LIVINGSTON).........................0.1
  BOURBONNAIS (KANKAKEE)......................TRACE
  DRESDEN LOCK/DAM (GRUNDY)...................TRACE
  DWIGHT (LIVINGSTON).........................TRACE
  PAXTON (FORD)...............................TRACE
  WATSEKA 5W (IROQUOIS).......................TRACE
  SENECA 1NE (LA SALLE).......................TRACE
  JOLIET LOCK/DAM (WILL)......................TRACE
  PARK FOREST (COOK)..........................TRACE
  PONTIAC (LIVINGSTON)........................TRACE

NORTHWEST INDIANA                              SNOW
  LOCATION (COUNTY):                           FALL(INCHES)

  VALPARAISO 5NNE (PORTER)......................0.8
  VALPARAISO 5NNE (PORTER)......................0.8
  CROWN POINT 8E (PORTER).......................0.6
  PORTAGE 1ESE (PORTER).........................0.6
  VALPARAISO 1SE (PORTER).......................0.4
  PORTER 1S (PORTER)............................0.4
  DYER 1WNW (LAKE)..............................0.3
  SCHERERVILLE 2WSW (LAKE)......................0.3
  CROWN POINT 2WSW (LAKE).......................0.3
  HEBRON 4NE (PORTER)...........................0.2
  LAKES OF THE FOUR SEASONS 2NNE (PORTER).......0.2
  VALPARAISO 6WSW (PORTER)......................0.2
  VALPARAISO 2N (PORTER)........................0.2
  VALPARAISO 1NNW (PORTER)......................0.1
  WHEATFIELD 3S (JASPER)......................TRACE
  CROWN POINT 1N (LAKE).......................TRACE
  ST. JOHN (LAKE).............................TRACE
  VALPARAISO 4SW (PORTER).....................TRACE
  VALPARAISO 1ENE (PORTER)....................TRACE

$$

Additional Reports

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
504 PM CST FRI FEB 24 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0553 AM     SNOW             DOWNERS GROVE           41.80N 88.02W
02/24/2012  M2.8 INCH        DUPAGE             IL   CO-OP OBSERVER

            UPDATED REPORT. STILL SNOWING.

0553 AM     SNOW             ROSCOE                  42.42N 89.01W
02/24/2012  M5.5 INCH        WINNEBAGO          IL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            RELAYED BY MEDIA

0553 AM     SNOW             STILLMAN VALLEY         42.10N 89.18W
02/24/2012  E5.0 INCH        OGLE               IL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            RELAYED BY MEDIA

0600 AM     SNOW             MCHENRY                 42.34N 88.29W
02/24/2012  M7.3 INCH        MCHENRY            IL   COCORAHS

            7 ON GROUND

0600 AM     SNOW             DUPAGE AIRPORT          41.92N 88.25W
02/24/2012  M2.2 INCH        DUPAGE             IL   ASOS

0600 AM     SNOW             CAPRON                  42.40N 88.74W
02/24/2012  M4.9 INCH        BOONE              IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

0608 AM     SNOW             CAPRON                  42.40N 88.74W
02/24/2012  E5.0 INCH        BOONE              IL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            RELAYED BY MEDIA

0616 AM     SNOW             ROCKFORD                42.27N 89.06W
02/24/2012  M5.5 INCH        WINNEBAGO          IL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            AT WREX

0621 AM     SNOW             WADSWORTH               42.44N 87.92W
02/24/2012  M6.5 INCH        LAKE               IL   BROADCAST MEDIA

0630 AM     SNOW             3 S BARRINGTON          42.11N 88.13W
02/24/2012  M7.2 INCH        COOK               IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STORM TOTAL SO FAR

0635 AM     SNOW             CHICAGO                 41.88N 87.63W
02/24/2012  M2.0 INCH        COOK               IL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            AT WGN-TV

0637 AM     SNOW             NAPERVILLE              41.76N 88.15W
02/24/2012  M2.0 INCH        DUPAGE             IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

0644 AM     SNOW             WINNEBAGO               42.27N 89.24W
02/24/2012  M5.0 INCH        WINNEBAGO          IL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            RELAYED BY MEDIA

0644 AM     SNOW             ROCHELLE                41.92N 89.06W
02/24/2012  M5.0 INCH        OGLE               IL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            RELAYED BY MEDIA

0644 AM     SNOW             FRANKLIN GROVE          41.84N 89.30W
02/24/2012  M4.0 INCH        LEE                IL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            RELAYED BY MEDIA

0645 AM     SNOW             5 NNE ADDISON           42.00N 87.98W
02/24/2012  M3.6 INCH        COOK               IL   COCORAHS

0654 AM     SNOW             FORRESTON               42.13N 89.58W
02/24/2012  E6.5 INCH        OGLE               IL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            RELAYED BY MEDIA

0700 AM     SNOW             WOODSTOCK               42.31N 88.44W
02/24/2012  M8.3 INCH        MCHENRY            IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

0715 AM     SNOW             S CHICAGO               41.87N 87.63W
02/24/2012  M0.3 INCH        COOK               IL   NWS EMPLOYEE

0716 AM     SNOW             OREGON                  42.01N 89.34W
02/24/2012  M5.5 INCH        OGLE               IL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            RELAYED BY MEDIA

0722 AM     SNOW             5 S PECATONICA          42.24N 89.36W
02/24/2012  M6.5 INCH        WINNEBAGO          IL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            SNOW MEASURED IN SEWARD

0730 AM     SNOW             ISLAND LAKE             42.28N 88.20W
02/24/2012  M6.7 INCH        LAKE               IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

0800 AM     SNOW             MORTON GROVE            42.04N 87.79W
02/24/2012  M2.6 INCH        COOK               IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

0811 AM     SNOW             CARPENTERSVILLE         42.12N 88.27W
02/24/2012  M5.1 INCH        KANE               IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

0815 AM     SNOW             ROSCOE                  42.42N 89.01W
02/24/2012  M6.7 INCH        WINNEBAGO          IL   BROADCAST MEDIA

0830 AM     SNOW             HUNTLEY                 42.17N 88.42W
02/24/2012  M8.5 INCH        MCHENRY            IL   COCORAHS

            STORM TOTAL. DELAYED REPORT.

0834 AM     SNOW             ELK GROVE VILLAGE       42.01N 87.99W
02/24/2012  M2.5 INCH        COOK               IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

0839 AM     SNOW             CHERRY VALLEY           42.24N 88.96W
02/24/2012  M6.5 INCH        WINNEBAGO          IL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            RELAYED BY MEDIA

0844 AM     SNOW             HAWTHORN WOODS          42.22N 88.06W
02/24/2012  M6.0 INCH        LAKE               IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

0855 AM     SNOW             WADSWORTH               42.44N 87.92W
02/24/2012  M8.5 INCH        LAKE               IL   BROADCAST MEDIA

0900 AM     SNOW             WARRENVILLE             41.82N 88.19W
02/24/2012  M2.9 INCH        DUPAGE             IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

0900 AM     SNOW             3 S BARRINGTON          42.11N 88.13W
02/24/2012  M7.4 INCH        COOK               IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

0900 AM     SNOW             ELBURN                  41.89N 88.47W
02/24/2012  M4.7 INCH        KANE               IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

0929 AM     SNOW             EVANSTON                42.05N 87.69W
02/24/2012  M2.0 INCH        COOK               IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

0930 AM     SNOW             E HARVARD               42.42N 88.61W
02/24/2012  M5.6 INCH        MCHENRY            IL   COCORAHS

1140 AM     SNOW             3 SW MIDWAY AIRPORT     41.75N 87.79W
02/24/2012  M1.7 INCH        COOK               IL   CO-OP OBSERVER

            SNOW DEPTH 1 INCH

1219 PM     SNOW             ROCKFORD AIRPORT        42.20N 89.10W
02/24/2012  M5.0 INCH        WINNEBAGO          IL   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            STORM TOTAL

1219 PM     SNOW             ROMEOVILLE              41.65N 88.09W
02/24/2012  M1.0 INCH        WILL               IL   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

1219 PM     SNOW             OHARE AIRPORT           41.98N 87.90W
02/24/2012  M3.5 INCH        COOK               IL   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            STORM TOTAL


&&

$$