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 >

March 24, 2013 Snow Event

 

Facts     |   Snowfall    |    Meteorology   |   Service   |   Other Stories

 


 

Facts

Rockford:

  • The 1.9 in. measured at Rockford Airport was the latest measurable snowfall in the cool season since 2009, when 1.9 in. fell on March 28-29, 2009 and 0.2 in. fell on April 5th, 2009.

Elsewhere:

  • It is likely that Rensselaer Indiana had their largest snowfall total after March 20th since March 25-27, 2002 when 8.5 inches had fallen.

 


 

Snowfall 

 

Local Snowfall Map 

Regional Snowfall Map

local snowfall map Regional Snowfall
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO IL
1043 AM CDT MON MAR 25 2013

...MORNING SNOWFALL ROUNDUP...

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

   24-HOUR SNOWFALL AMOUNTS FOR MONDAY(03/25/13)...


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

  PAXTON (FORD)................................10.0
  MILFORD (IROQUOIS)............................8.9
  CHATSWORTH (LIVINGSTON).......................7.0
  CHATSWORTH (LIVINGSTON).......................7.0
  WATSEKA (IROQUOIS)............................7.0
  FAIRBURY (LIVINGSTON).........................5.5
  EMINGTON 2SSE (LIVINGSTON)....................5.0
  WATSEKA 5W (IROQUOIS).........................3.5
  ST ANNE (KANKAKEE)............................3.2
  SOUTH WILMINGTON 2E (GRUNDY)..................3.1
  DWIGHT (LIVINGSTON)...........................3.0
  BONFIELD 4WSW (KANKAKEE)......................3.0
  STREATOR 1WSW (LA SALLE)......................3.0
  BRACEVILLE (GRUNDY)...........................2.2
  BONFIELD 4NNE (KANKAKEE)......................2.1
  ROCKTON 1ESE (WINNEBAGO)......................2.1
  BOURBONNAIS (KANKAKEE)........................2.0
  MAZON 0.5ENE (GRUNDY).........................2.0
  MANTENO 2SSE (KANKAKEE).......................2.0
  KANKAKEE 3SE (KANKAKEE).......................2.0
  SHERIDAN (LA SALLE)...........................2.0
  MARSEILLES 6WNW (LA SALLE)....................2.0
  MARSEILLES (LA SALLE).........................2.0
  PAW PAW (LEE).................................2.0
  PARK FOREST (COOK)............................2.0
  ROCKFORD 4NW (WINNEBAGO)......................2.0
  OTTAWA 2N (LA SALLE)..........................1.9
  PEOTONE (WILL)................................1.9
  MORRIS (GRUNDY)...............................1.9
  ROCKFORD (WINNEBAGO)..........................1.9
  BEECHER (WILL)................................1.9
  PEOTONE (WILL)................................1.8
  NEW LENOX 2SE (WILL)..........................1.8
  PEOTONE (WILL)................................1.8
  COAL CITY 4NNW (GRUNDY).......................1.7
  CARBON HILL 3.1N (GRUNDY).....................1.7
  LA SALLE (LA SALLE)...........................1.7
  ROCKFORD 1NW (WINNEBAGO)......................1.7
  OTTAWA (LA SALLE).............................1.6
  DIXON 2SW (LEE)...............................1.5
  SHERIDAN 3SSE (LA SALLE)......................1.5
  STREATOR 4ENE (LA SALLE)......................1.5
  BYRON 3N (OGLE)...............................1.5
  LOCKPORT 1SE (WILL)...........................1.5
  ROCKFORD 2ENE (WINNEBAGO).....................1.5
  JOLIET (WILL).................................1.5
  ASHTON (LEE)..................................1.4
  DIXON 3NNW (LEE)..............................1.4
  MENDOTA 1N (LA SALLE).........................1.4
  MANHATTAN 5ENE (WILL).........................1.4
  NEW LENOX 3E (WILL)...........................1.4
  MANHATTAN (WILL)..............................1.4
  SUBLETTE (LEE)................................1.3
  AMBOY (LEE)...................................1.2
  MENDOTA 2SE (LA SALLE)........................1.2
  MOKENA 1W (WILL)..............................1.2
  JOLIET 2N (WILL)..............................1.2
  ROMEOVILLE (WILL).............................1.2
  MORRIS 6ESE (GRUNDY)..........................1.1
  CRETE 3E (WILL)...............................1.1
  HOMER GLEN 4WNW (WILL)........................1.1
  MANHATTAN 2SE (WILL)..........................1.1
  YORKVILLE 2SE (KENDALL).......................1.1
  DE KALB (DE KALB).............................1.0
  CAPRON (BOONE)................................1.0
  PALOS PARK 1SW (COOK).........................1.0
  BOURBONNAIS 2NNE (KANKAKEE)...................1.0
  OGLESBY 0.4N (LA SALLE).......................1.0
  SENECA 1NE (LA SALLE).........................1.0
  WILMINGTON 3SE (WILL).........................1.0
  STREATOR (LIVINGSTON).........................1.0
  EARLVILLE 3S (LA SALLE).......................0.9
  MALTA (DE KALB)...............................0.9
  ROSCOE 2ESE (WINNEBAGO).......................0.9
  ROSCOE 2SE (WINNEBAGO)........................0.9
  AMBOY (LEE)...................................0.8
  MENDOTA (LA SALLE)............................0.8
  MONEE (WILL)..................................0.8
  SHABBONA (DE KALB)............................0.8
  ORLAND HILLS 1SE (COOK).......................0.7
  HOMER GLEN 1ENE (WILL)........................0.7
  YORKVILLE 1NE (KENDALL).......................0.6
  PLAINFIELD 5SW (KENDALL)......................0.6
  MIDWAY COOP (COOK)............................0.6
  STEWARD (LEE).................................0.6
  OAK LAWN (COOK)...............................0.5
  CHICAGO RIDGE (COOK)..........................0.5
  DE KALB (DE KALB).............................0.5
  BOLINGBROOK 3NE (DU PAGE).....................0.5
  WESTMONT 1SSE (DU PAGE).......................0.5
  DOWNERS GROVE 2SE (DU PAGE)...................0.5
  DOWNERS GROVE (DU PAGE).......................0.5
  YORKVILLE 1W (KENDALL)........................0.5
  ELBURN (KANE).................................0.5
  JOLIET LOCK/DAM (WILL)........................0.5
  LA GRANGE (COOK)..............................0.5
  ROCHELLE (OGLE)...............................0.5
  HOMEWOOD (COOK)...............................0.4
  COUNTRYSIDE 1ENE (COOK).......................0.4
  COUNTRYSIDE 1NNE (COOK).......................0.4
  LA GRANGE PARK 1SSW (COOK)....................0.4
  COAL CITY (GRUNDY)............................0.4
  BULL VALLEY 2WNW (MCHENRY)....................0.4
  WONDER LAKE 1WNW (MCHENRY)....................0.4
  PLAINFIELD 2SSE (WILL)........................0.4
  ROCKFORD 3NE (WINNEBAGO)......................0.4
  PLAINFIELD (WILL).............................0.4
  WOODSTOCK 5NW (MCHENRY).......................0.4
  ANTIOCH 4W (LAKE).............................0.3
  WORTH (COOK)..................................0.3
  CORTLAND (DE KALB)............................0.3
  NAPERVILLE 1NW (DU PAGE)......................0.3
  OAK BROOK (DU PAGE)...........................0.3
  GENOA (DE KALB)...............................0.2
  SCHAUMBURG 3WSW (COOK)........................0.2
  AURORA 4SE (DU PAGE)..........................0.2
  LISLE 1SE (DU PAGE)...........................0.2
  ELGIN 2W (KANE)...............................0.2
  BATAVIA (KANE)................................0.1
  ELGIN (KANE)..................................0.1
  HOFFMAN ESTATES 5W (COOK).....................0.1
  INVERNESS 2S (COOK)...........................0.1
  AURORA 4SE (DU PAGE)..........................0.1
  SUGAR GROVE 1NE (KANE)........................0.1
  ELBURN 3NNE (KANE)............................0.1
  LAKE VILLA 1SSW (LAKE)........................0.1
  MARSEILLES 3NW (LA SALLE).....................0.1
  OHARE (COOK)..................................0.1
  ST CHARLES 7NW (KANE).........................0.1
  BARRINGTON (LAKE)...........................TRACE
  ELGIN (KANE)................................TRACE
  ELBURN (KANE)...............................TRACE
  PALATINE 1E (COOK)..........................TRACE
  SCHAUMBURG  2E (COOK).......................TRACE
  PARK RIDGE (COOK)...........................TRACE
  OAK PARK 1SW (COOK).........................TRACE
  OAK PARK 1NNE (COOK)........................TRACE
  ELK GROVE VILLAGE 2WSW (COOK)...............TRACE
  ARLINGTON HEIGHTS 2NNW (COOK)...............TRACE
  SCHAUMBURG  (COOK)..........................TRACE
  GLEN ELLYN 2SSE (DU PAGE)...................TRACE
  LISLE (DU PAGE).............................TRACE
  BARTLETT 1SSE (DU PAGE).....................TRACE
  BATAVIA 1WSW (KANE).........................TRACE
  ELGIN 1S (KANE).............................TRACE
  BATAVIA 2WNW (KANE).........................TRACE
  NORTH AURORA 2NE (KANE).....................TRACE
  GENEVA 2WSW (KANE)..........................TRACE
  ST. CHARLES 6NW (KANE)......................TRACE
  GENEVA 1SSW (KANE)..........................TRACE
  BEACH PARK 1W (LAKE)........................TRACE
  GURNEE 2NE (LAKE)...........................TRACE
  BUFFALO GROVE 2N (LAKE).....................TRACE
  RIVERWOODS (LAKE)...........................TRACE
  ALGONQUIN 1N (MCHENRY)......................TRACE
  CARY (MCHENRY)..............................TRACE
  PLAINFIELD 1SW (WILL).......................TRACE
  MARENGO (MCHENRY)...........................TRACE
  MCHENRY (MCHENRY)...........................TRACE
  MUNDELEIN (LAKE)............................TRACE
  SPRING GROVE 2N (MCHENRY)...................TRACE
  LISLE MORTON ARB (DU PAGE)..................TRACE

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

  REMINGTON (JASPER)............................7.8
  RENSSELAER (JASPER)...........................7.2
  MOUNT AYR 2NNE (NEWTON).......................6.3
  KENTLAND 1NNW (NEWTON)........................6.0
  BROOK 4W (NEWTON).............................6.0
  MOROCCO (NEWTON)..............................6.0
  REMINGTON (JASPER)............................5.7
  LAKE VILLAGE (NEWTON).........................5.0
  DE MOTTE 1NNW (JASPER)........................4.0
  DE MOTTE 1SSW (JASPER)........................4.0
  DE MOTTE 4SW (JASPER).........................4.0
  (W9OPR)WHEATFIELD 1ENE (JASPER)...............4.0
  ST. JOHN (LAKE)...............................2.6
  CROWN POINT 2WSW (LAKE).......................2.5
  LAKES OF THE FOUR SEASONS (PORTER)............2.3
  (W9MAL)MERRILLVILLE 2NNW (LAKE)...............2.0
  HEBRON 4NE (PORTER)...........................2.0
  VALPARAISO 6WSW (PORTER)......................2.0
  VALPARAISO 1NNW (PORTER)......................2.0
  VALPARAISO 1SE (PORTER).......................1.9
  CROWN POINT 1N (LAKE).........................1.8
  VALPARAISO 1ENE (PORTER)......................1.7
  VALPARAISO 2N (PORTER)........................1.5
  CROWN POINT 8E (PORTER).......................1.4
  VALPARAISO 4SW (PORTER).......................1.3
  PORTAGE 1ESE (PORTER).........................1.3
  DYER 1WNW (LAKE)..............................1.2
  SCHERERVILLE (LAKE)...........................1.1
  CROWN POINT (LAKE)............................1.0
  VALPARAISO 6SSW (PORTER)......................1.0
  VALPARAISO 2NW (PORTER).......................1.0
  PORTER 1S (PORTER)............................1.0
  VALPARAISO 5NNE (PORTER)......................0.8
  VALPARAISO 5NNE (PORTER)......................0.8
  CHESTERTON 4E (PORTER)........................0.7
  CHESTERTON 1ENE (PORTER)......................0.4
  HIGHLAND  (LAKE)..............................0.4

$$

 

Meteorology

 

GOES Water Vapor Satellite Loop from Early Sunday Morning Through Sunday Evening

Satellite Loop

The circulation center of the system can easily be seen moving from MO and across the lower Ohio River Valley.  The classic expansive large cloud shield, indicated by bright moist colors, on the north side of this circulation path was caused by potent upper level dynamics and associated lift.  This low pressure was deepening rapidly, a characteristic which can result in heavy precipitation.  This strengthening was caused by a strong upper level jet stream moving east across OK, AR, and into TN and KY on this loop.  The system dry slot makes this jet more evident.  At the leading edge of this dry nose, you will not occasional cloud-to-ground lightning strikes as depicted by the small red symbols.  This reflected how unstable the atmosphere was aloft on the leading edge of this dry slot.

 

 

Model Sounding Analysis:  8 pm Over Benton County, IN

Upper Air Sounding

This upper atmosphere profile is from a computer model (RAP) for Benton County at 8 pm Sunday evening, which was during a period of heavy snowfall.  Lapse rates in the lower and upper levels of the atmosphere were steep, indicating at least partial upright instability.  While the column is saturated the precipitable water is only 0.42 of an inch, which for a late March event is somewhat low.  This was compensated however by the very strong dynamics owing to lift and the elevated instability present.

 

Upper Air Sounding

Upper Air Sounding

The light blue contours indicate areas that the analyzed model was depicting deep ascent during early Sunday evening.  This again was favored on the leading edge of the system, where some of the heaviest snowfall rates were occurring.

The shaded areas depict where upper level divergence was atop of low-level convergence during early Sunday evening.  This can imply focused placement of lift. A persistent axis leading to moderate to at times heavy snow was in tandem with this across east central Illinois.

 


 

Service 

 

Watches, Warnings, & Advisories

Issued March 22

Issued Early March 24

WWA

Weather Story

 


 

Other Locations