Fast Facts | Snowfall Map | Science | Amounts
Common of most winter weather events, this was a complex one to forecast. Mother Nature threw a change of pace at us with this weather system compared to the previous two months. Sure the system still brought snow, but this was a much higher water content snow as the system was of Pacific origin and also tapped Gulf of Mexico moisture. This had not been common with most of our snow events this winter as they had drier content snow, yet still heavy at times. This higher moisture was forecast with this event, and the high moisture content was one reason snowfall and freezing rain rates were able to be moderate to heavy at times.
Here is a look at Saturday morning weather balloon data from the NWS Office in Lincoln, which captured the atmosphere that produced moderate to heavy precipitation during that time over our area. Many locations across northern Illinois dropped to 1/2SM visibility in snow for a period in the early morning.
A nearly stationary front aloft was a focus for the snow from Friday afternoon through Saturday across the area, but there were many ingredients that led to the forcing and the moderate to heavy snow seen, especially Saturday morning. These included very high moisture content in the atmosphere, a favorable upper let jet pattern for continuous broad lift, and several upper level disturbances which helped concentrate stronger ascent.
Total snowfall amounts ended up being close to forecast for areas south of I-80 into the south Chicago metro, while less than forecast to the north. This was due to a few elements which were forecast challenges. There was some drier air at first which kept snowfall rates Fri night quite low in northern areas. Then there was a lull in much of the snow from late evening into the overnight Friday due to primarily being between upper level disturbances (impulses). These breaks can be a challenge for forecasters and computer models, as there remained forcing for lift along the elevated front, it just was weak. Finally, just an overall further southern evolution of the best forcing and snowfall duration evolved.
Here is a look at the ingredients that were at work overlaid on radar at six hour intervals in this event.
Below is at the surface map with dew points as an image from Friday night depicting the high pressure and dry air that some of the initial snowfall had to battle.
|
Chicago O'Hare |
4.0" |
|
Rockford |
2.5" |
|
Chicago Midway 3SW |
5.3" |
|
Romeoville (NWS Office) |
5.6" |
Text Listing of Snowfall Reports from NWS Cooperative and CoCoRaHS Observers
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
1043 AM CST SUN FEB 02 2014
...2-DAY SNOWFALL ROUND-UP...
THE FOLLOWING ARE SNOW AMOUNTS FOR THE PREVIOUS 2 DAYS
AS MEASURED IN THE MORNING BY NWS COOPERATIVE OBSERVERS
AND COCORAHS OBSERVERS. OBSERVATIONS ARE USUALLY
TAKEN AT 7 AM.
2-DAY SNOW TOTALS FOR SUNDAY (02/02/14)
AS OF 10:43 AM CST
ILLINOIS 2-DAY SNOW FALL
LOCATION (COUNTY): AMT(IN) REPORTS
PONTIAC (LIVINGSTON).........................10.0
MARSEILLES 6WNW (LA SALLE)....................8.0
DWIGHT (LIVINGSTON)...........................8.0
CRETE 3E (WILL)...............................7.4
MENDOTA 1N (LA SALLE).........................7.2
CARBON HILL 3.1N (GRUNDY).....................6.8
COAL CITY 4NNW (GRUNDY).......................6.8
SCHAUMBURG 2E (COOK).........................6.6
PEOTONE (WILL)................................6.6
MARSEILLES (LA SALLE).........................6.6
PEOTONE (WILL)................................6.6
MARSEILLES 3NW (LA SALLE).....................6.5
ELBURN (KANE).................................6.5
KANKAKEE 3SE (KANKAKEE).......................6.4
WINNETKA 1ESE (COOK)..........................6.3
PEOTONE (WILL)................................6.1
STREATOR 1WSW (LA SALLE)......................6.1
STREATOR (LIVINGSTON).........................6.0
JOLIET LOCK/DAM (WILL)........................6.0
OTTAWA 2N (LA SALLE)..........................6.0
SENECA 2SSW (LA SALLE)........................6.0
MINOOKA (GRUNDY)..............................6.0
MAZON 0.5ENE (GRUNDY).........................6.0
MORRIS 6ESE (GRUNDY)..........................5.9
WORTH (COOK)..................................5.9
ASHKUM 5.6E (IROQUOIS)........................5.9
MANHATTAN 2SE (WILL)..........................5.7
PLAINFIELD 5SW (KENDALL)......................5.7
BOURBONNAIS (KANKAKEE)........................5.7
OAK LAWN (COOK)...............................5.7
ROMEOVILLE (WILL).............................5.6
STREATOR 4ENE (LA SALLE)......................5.6
PLAINFIELD 2SSE (WILL)........................5.5
OTTAWA 1NW (LA SALLE).........................5.5
ORLAND HILLS 1SE (COOK).......................5.5
CHICAGO RIDGE (COOK)..........................5.5
AURORA (KANE).................................5.5
HOMER GLEN 4WNW (WILL)........................5.4
MIDWAY COOP (COOK)............................5.3
MANHATTAN (WILL)..............................5.3
MANHATTAN 5ENE (WILL).........................5.3
JOLIET 2N (WILL)..............................5.3
NEW LENOX 3E (WILL)...........................5.2
PLAINFIELD 1SW (WILL).........................5.2
CHICAGO 6ESE (COOK)...........................5.2
LA SALLE (LA SALLE)...........................5.2
GENOA (DE KALB)...............................5.2
SHERIDAN 3SSE (LA SALLE)......................5.0
BONFIELD 4WSW (KANKAKEE)......................5.0
COUNTRYSIDE 1NNE (COOK).......................5.0
YORKVILLE 2SE (KENDALL).......................4.7
ST CHARLES (KANE).............................4.7
HOMER GLEN 1ENE (WILL)........................4.7
ST. CHARLES (KANE)............................4.7
NEW LENOX 2SE (WILL)..........................4.6
ROCHELLE (OGLE)...............................4.5
NAPERVILLE 1NW (DU PAGE)......................4.5
FAIRBURY (LIVINGSTON).........................4.5
OAK PARK 1NNE (COOK)..........................4.4
WINFIELD (DU PAGE)............................4.4
BATAVIA 1WNW (KANE)...........................4.3
OAK BROOK (DU PAGE)...........................4.2
LINCOLNWOOD 2E (COOK).........................4.2
ELK GROVE VILLAGE 1ESE (COOK).................4.2
BURR RIDGE 2SW (DU PAGE)......................4.1
WESTMONT 1SSE (DU PAGE).......................4.1
WILLOW SPRINGS (COOK).........................4.0
OTTAWA (LA SALLE).............................4.0
OHARE (COOK)..................................4.0
CHATSWORTH (LIVINGSTON).......................4.0
MENDOTA 2SE (LA SALLE)........................4.0
LISLE (DU PAGE)...............................4.0
OAK PARK 2S (COOK)............................4.0
CHATSWORTH (LIVINGSTON).......................4.0
BARRINGTON (LAKE).............................4.0
DE KALB (DE KALB).............................3.9
HARWOOD HEIGHTS 2NNE (COOK)...................3.9
PARK RIDGE (COOK).............................3.9
LISLE 1SE (DU PAGE)...........................3.8
HIGHWOOD 1S (LAKE)............................3.8
BATAVIA 2WNW (KANE)...........................3.8
LA GRANGE PARK 1SSW (COOK)....................3.8
SCHAUMBURG 3WSW (COOK)........................3.8
BATAVIA (KANE)................................3.8
AURORA 4SE (DU PAGE)..........................3.7
COUNTRYSIDE 1ENE (COOK).......................3.7
ELK GROVE VILLAGE 2WSW (COOK).................3.7
PALATINE 1E (COOK)............................3.7
STEWARD (LEE).................................3.6
GENEVA 2WSW (KANE)............................3.6
SUGAR GROVE 1NE (KANE)........................3.6
AURORA 4SE (DU PAGE)..........................3.6
MENDOTA (LA SALLE)............................3.5
ROSELLE 1ESE (DU PAGE)........................3.5
BOLINGBROOK 3NE (DU PAGE).....................3.5
BOTANIC GARDENS (COOK)........................3.5
WESTMONT (DU PAGE)............................3.4
ELGIN 2W (KANE)...............................3.4
WATSEKA 6.9WNW (IROQUOIS).....................3.4
DE KALB (DE KALB).............................3.4
MILFORD (IROQUOIS)............................3.2
ELGIN (KANE)..................................3.2
RIVERWOODS (LAKE).............................3.2
ROCKFORD 3NE (WINNEBAGO)......................3.1
LAKE ZURICH (LAKE)............................3.1
DIXON 2SW (LEE)...............................3.0
BYRON 3N (OGLE)...............................2.9
MUNDELEIN (LAKE)..............................2.9
MUNDELEIN (LAKE)..............................2.8
ROCKFORD 2ENE (WINNEBAGO).....................2.8
BEACH PARK 1W (LAKE)..........................2.8
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS 2NNW (COOK).................2.8
CAPRON (BOONE)................................2.8
WONDER LAKE 1WNW (MCHENRY)....................2.7
BULL VALLEY 2WNW (MCHENRY)....................2.7
WAUKEGAN 2N (LAKE)............................2.6
LINCOLNSHIRE 1N (LAKE)........................2.6
LAKE VILLA 1SSW (LAKE)........................2.6
WOODSTOCK 5NW (MCHENRY).......................2.6
ROCKFORD (WINNEBAGO)..........................2.5
GURNEE 2NE (LAKE).............................2.5
BARTLETT 1SSE (DU PAGE).......................2.5
HOFFMAN ESTATES 5W (COOK).....................2.5
ROCKFORD 1NW (WINNEBAGO)......................2.3
SPRING GROVE 2N (MCHENRY).....................2.2
ROSCOE 2SE (WINNEBAGO)........................2.1
ROSCOE 2ESE (WINNEBAGO).......................2.1
WOODSTOCK (MCHENRY)...........................2.1
WOODSTOCK 2WSW (MCHENRY)......................2.1
MACHESNEY PARK 3ENE (WINNEBAGO)...............2.0
ROCKTON 1ESE (WINNEBAGO)......................1.8
INDIANA 2-DAY SNOW FALL
LOCATION (COUNTY): AMT(IN) REPORTS
LAKES OF THE FOUR SEASONS 2NNE (PORTER).......7.2
(W9MAL)MERRILLVILLE 2NNW (LAKE)...............6.8
DYER 1WNW (LAKE)..............................6.8
CHESTERTON 4E (PORTER)........................6.5
DE MOTTE 6S (JASPER)..........................6.5
PORTER 1S (PORTER)............................6.2
MOROCCO (NEWTON)..............................6.0
CROWN POINT 2WSW (LAKE).......................6.0
VALPARAISO 5NNE (PORTER)......................5.3
VALPARAISO 5NNE (PORTER)......................5.3
HEBRON 4NE (PORTER)...........................5.2
VALPARAISO 6SSW (PORTER)......................5.0
CROWN POINT 1N (LAKE).........................5.0
VALPARAISO 1SE (PORTER).......................4.9
VALPARAISO 6WSW (PORTER)......................4.8
VALPARAISO 4SW (PORTER).......................4.7
DE MOTTE 4SW (JASPER).........................4.3
MOUNT AYR 2NNE (NEWTON).......................4.2
REMINGTON (JASPER)............................3.7
REMINGTON (JASPER)............................2.9
RENSSELAER (JASPER)...........................2.8
$$
ACS
Snowfall Totals From Storm Spotters
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
1226 AM CST SUN FEB 02 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1031 PM SNOW POLO 41.98N 89.58W
02/01/2014 M2.2 INCH OGLE IL CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL SNOW. 0.21 INCHES WHEN MELTED.
0900 PM SNOW 4 NNW JOLIET 41.59N 88.14W
02/01/2014 M5.5 INCH WILL IL NWS EMPLOYEE
STORM TOTAL
0800 PM HEAVY SNOW LAKE VILLAGE 41.13N 87.43W
02/01/2014 M8.3 INCH NEWTON IN PUBLIC
0755 PM HEAVY SNOW PONTIAC 40.88N 88.64W
02/01/2014 E6.5 INCH LIVINGSTON IL PUBLIC
0730 PM SNOW CLIFTON 40.94N 87.93W
02/01/2014 E5.5 INCH IROQUOIS IL PUBLIC
0730 PM HEAVY SNOW PONTIAC 40.88N 88.64W
02/01/2014 E7.0 INCH LIVINGSTON IL PUBLIC
0730 PM SNOW WOODSTOCK 42.31N 88.44W
02/01/2014 E2.5 INCH MCHENRY IL TRAINED SPOTTER
0730 PM SNOW NORTHBROOK 42.13N 87.83W
02/01/2014 E4.5 INCH COOK IL PUBLIC
0730 PM HEAVY SNOW MORRIS 41.37N 88.43W
02/01/2014 M7.8 INCH GRUNDY IL TRAINED SPOTTER
0715 PM SNOW HARWOOD HEIGHTS 41.97N 87.81W
02/01/2014 M3.9 INCH COOK IL COCORAHS
0715 PM SNOW HOMEWOOD 41.56N 87.66W
02/01/2014 M5.9 INCH COOK IL COCORAHS
STORM TOTAL.
0700 PM HEAVY SNOW PORTAGE 41.59N 87.18W
02/01/2014 M6.6 INCH PORTER IN TRAINED SPOTTER
0.55 LIQUID
0700 PM SNOW DOWNERS GROVE 41.80N 88.02W
02/01/2014 M4.5 INCH DUPAGE IL TRAINED SPOTTER
0700 PM SNOW OAK BROOK 41.84N 87.95W
02/01/2014 M4.2 INCH DUPAGE IL CO-OP OBSERVER
7 INCHES SNOW DEPTH
0657 PM SNOW EVANSTON 42.05N 87.69W
02/01/2014 M3.7 INCH COOK IL AMATEUR RADIO
STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL.
0645 PM SNOW 2 W JOLIET 41.53N 88.16W
02/01/2014 M5.1 INCH WILL IL PUBLIC
0630 PM HEAVY SNOW LANSING 41.57N 87.55W
02/01/2014 E7.0 INCH COOK IL PUBLIC
0630 PM SNOW SCHAUMBURG 42.03N 88.08W
02/01/2014 M4.4 INCH COOK IL TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL.
0610 PM SNOW OAK FOREST 41.61N 87.75W
02/01/2014 M5.5 INCH COOK IL PUBLIC
5.5 INCHES THUS FAR.
0600 PM HEAVY SNOW 3 S PLAINFIELD 41.57N 88.20W
02/01/2014 E7.0 INCH WILL IL PUBLIC
0600 PM HEAVY SNOW NORTHBROOK 42.13N 87.83W
02/01/2014 M3.2 INCH COOK IL AMATEUR RADIO
0600 PM SNOW UTICA 41.34N 89.01W
02/01/2014 M3.2 INCH LA SALLE IL PUBLIC
0600 PM HEAVY SNOW LINCOLNWOOD 42.01N 87.73W
02/01/2014 M3.2 INCH COOK IL PUBLIC
0555 PM SNOW ROCKFORD AIRPORT 42.20N 89.10W
02/01/2014 M2.5 INCH WINNEBAGO IL OFFICIAL NWS OBS
0555 PM SNOW OHARE AIRPORT 41.98N 87.90W
02/01/2014 M4.0 INCH COOK IL OTHER FEDERAL
0555 PM SNOW 3 SW MIDWAY AIRPORT 41.75N 87.79W
02/01/2014 M5.3 INCH COOK IL CO-OP OBSERVER
LIQUID 0.41 WITH 7 INCHES ON THE GROUND
0555 PM HEAVY SNOW PEOTONE 41.33N 87.80W
02/01/2014 M6.6 INCH WILL IL CO-OP OBSERVER
0555 PM SNOW ROMEOVILLE 41.65N 88.09W
02/01/2014 M5.6 INCH WILL IL OFFICIAL NWS OBS
0515 PM SNOW 2 N JOLIET 41.56N 88.12W
02/01/2014 M5.3 INCH WILL IL NWS EMPLOYEE
0500 PM SNOW DOWNERS GROVE 41.80N 88.02W
02/01/2014 M4.2 INCH DUPAGE IL TRAINED SPOTTER
TOTAL SO FAR.
0500 PM SNOW ROUND LAKE 42.35N 88.11W
02/01/2014 E2.5 INCH LAKE IL PUBLIC
0500 PM HEAVY SNOW WHEATFIELD 41.19N 87.05W
02/01/2014 E8.0 INCH JASPER IN PUBLIC
0500 PM HEAVY SNOW BEACH PARK 42.42N 87.86W
02/01/2014 M2.9 INCH LAKE IL PUBLIC
0439 PM SNOW 7 S BRAIDWOOD 41.17N 88.22W
02/01/2014 M6.0 INCH KANKAKEE IL NWS EMPLOYEE
6.0 INCHES THUS FAR.
0435 PM SNOW OAK LAWN 41.72N 87.75W
02/01/2014 M5.1 INCH COOK IL TRAINED SPOTTER
5.1 INCHES THUS FAR.
0345 PM HEAVY SNOW 2 NW JOLIET 41.55N 88.15W
02/01/2014 M6.2 INCH WILL IL NWS EMPLOYEE
0335 PM SNOW HIGHWOOD 42.21N 87.81W
02/01/2014 M3.8 INCH LAKE IL PUBLIC
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