Fast Facts | Science & Photos | Temperatures | Wind Chills | Wind Gusts
The weather pattern on January 27th-28th was similar to that of three weeks prior, on January 6th-7th that brought the last Arctic air outbreak to northern Illinois and northwest Indiana. Here is a quick look at the 500mb map, as well as an explanation from the similar January 6th-7th event:
For a high resolution image click here.
The upper air pattern related to a section of the polar vortex, which became a viral term during the last cold air outbreak. For more on this, please see this helpful graphic from our colleagues at the New York NWS office. |
One final factor that has helped with the cold, including this deep cold outbreak, is snow cover. Snow cover serves as almost a "freezer", preserving the cold air mass as it works southward. During the daytime, it also reflects much of the sun's short wave energy, not allowing for as much heating. Below one can see the substantial amount and depth of snow cover on Jan 27th, not only over the immediate area but "upstream" for northwest winds.
January 27th Regional Snow Depth |
January 27th National Snow Depth |
Images courtesy of the National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center |
January 28th Morning:
MAXIMUM/MINIMUM TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION TABLE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL 830 AM CST TUE JAN 28 2014 HIGH TEMPERATURE YESTERDAY LOW TEMPERATURE ENDING AT 6 AM PRECIPITATION LAST 24 HOURS SNOWFALL LAST 24 HOURS .BR LOT 0128 C DH00/TAIRZX/DH06/TAIRZP/PPDRZZ/SFDRZZ :ID LOCATION HIGH LOW PCPN SNOWFALL ORD: CHICAGO-O`HARE : 6 / -11 / 0.00 / 0.0 CNII2: CHICAGO-NORTHERLY ISL: 8 / -9 / MDW: CHICAGO-MIDWAY : 6 / -11 / 0.00 LOTI2: NWS ROMEOVILLE : 4 / -15 / 0.00 / RFD: ROCKFORD AIRPORT : 2 / -18 / 0.00 / 0.0 DPA: DUPAGE AIRPORT : 4 / -14 / 0.00 UGN: WAUKEGAN AIRPORT : 6 / -13 / 0.00 ARR: AURORA/SUGAR GROVE : 3 / -14 / 0.00 PWK: WHEELING/CHI EXEC : 8 / -11 / 0.00 VPZ: VALPARAISO IN : 8 / -15 / 0.00 : UNOFFICIAL SUPPLEMENTAL AWOS LOCATIONS : DKB: DEKALB : 2 / -14 / JOT: JOLIET : 7 / -15 / IKK: KANKAKEE : 9 / -12 / IGQ: LANSING : 10 / -12 / C09: MORRIS : 6 / -12 / VYS: PERU : 6 / -10 / PNT: PONTIAC : 32 / -6 / RZL: RENSSELAER IN : 16 / -13 / RPJ: ROCHELLE : 3 / -16 / : ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTAL AUTOMATED LOCATIONS : .END THE FOLLOWING DATA PROVIDED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COOPERATIVE OBSERVERS. 24 HR TEMPERATURES AND PRECIPITATION ENDING AT INDICATED TIME THIS MORNING. LOCATIONS ARE GROUPED BY CLIMATIC DIVISION. .BR LOT 0128 C DH07/TAIRZX/TAIRZN/PPDRZZ/SFDRZZ/SDIRZZ : SNOW SNOW :LOCATION DATE/TIME MAX MIN PCPN FALL DEPTH :NORTHEAST ILLINOIS... ARRI2: AURORA : DH0700/ -3 / -13 / 0.00 / 0.0/ 8 BARI2: BARRINGTON 3SW : DH0800/ -4 / -16 / 0.00 / / 13 CBGI2: BOTANIC GARDENS: DH0800/ 0 / -13 / 0.00 / 0.0/ 12 MFWI2: MIDWAY COOP : DH0700/ 0 / -11 / 0.00 / 0.0/ 6 DEKI2: DEKALB : DH0700/ 0 / -14 / 0.00 / 0.0/ 8 ELGI2: ELGIN : DH0700/ -2 / -14 / 0.00 / 0.0/ 2 JOLI2: JOLIET LOCK/DAM: DH0600/ -2 / -13 / 0.00 / 0.0/ 2 MARI2: MARENGO : DH0700/ -4 / -19 / 0.00 / / 9 MMOI2: MARSEILLES : DH0800/ -1 / -16 / 0.00 / 0.0/ 3 MHYI2: MCHENRY : DH0800/ -5 / -17 / 0.00 / 0.0/ 9 MOSI2: MORRIS : DH0800/ -1 / -12 / 0.00 / 0.0/ 1 MUNI2: MUNDELEIN : DH0700/ -4 / -16 / 0.00 / 0.0/ 5 OTTI2: OTTAWA 4SW : DH0745/ 0 / -12 / 0.00 / / 6 PKFI2: PARK FOREST : DH0600/ 0 / -13 / 0.00 / 0.0/ 2 : SNOW SNOW :LOCATION DATE/TIME MAX MIN PCPN FALL DEPTH :NORTHWEST ILLINOIS... PAWI2: PAW PAW : DH0700/ -4 / -14 / 0.00 / 0.0/ 8 RCHI2: ROCHELLE : DH0600/ -4 / -16 / 0.00 / 0.0/ 0 : SNOW SNOW :LOCATION DATE/TIME MAX MIN PCPN FALL DEPTH :NORTHWEST INDIANA... RZZI3: RENSSELAER : DH0730/ 5 / -5 / 0.00 / 0.0/ 6 VPOI3: VALPARAISO 5NNE: DH0700/ 2 / -14 / T / T/ 8 : SNOW SNOW :LOCATION DATE/TIME MAX MIN PCPN FALL DEPTH :EASTERN ILLINOIS... CWWI2: DWIGHT : DH0700/ -1 / -12 / 0.00 / / 6 KKEI2: KANKAKEE : DH0700/ 0 / -12 / 0.00 / 0.0/ 7 PXNI2: PAXTON : DH0700/ 8 / -3 / 0.00 / / 1 WATI2: WATSEKA : DH0700/ 1 / -10 / 0.00 / 0.0/ .END OTHER ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTARY REPORTS SNOW SNOW :LOCATION DATE/TIME MAX MIN PCPN FALL DEPTH BATI2: BATAVIA : DH0600/ -3 / -14 / 0.00 / 0.0/ 7 CTYI2: COAL CITY 4NNW : DH0600/ 0 / -16 / 0.00 / 0.0/ 5 THESE DATA ARE PRELIMINARY AND HAVE NOT UNDERGONE FINAL QUALITY CONTROL BY THE NATIONAL CLIMATIC DATA CENTER /NCDC/. THEREFORE... THESE DATA ARE SUBJECT TO REVISION. FINAL AND CERTIFIED CLIMATE DATA CAN BE ACCESSED AT WWW.NCDC.NOAA.GOV.
January 28th Morning:
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO IL 929 AM CST TUE JAN 28 2014 /1029 AM EST TUE JAN 28 2014/ ...LOWEST WIND CHILLS FROM MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY... OBSERVATIONS ARE COLLECTED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES WITH VARYING EQUIPMENT AND EXPOSURE. NOT ALL DATA LISTED ARE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL. LOCATION TEMP TIME/DATE --------------------------------------------------------- 2 SSE STEWARD -35 0530 AM 01/28 DE KALB -34 0255 AM 01/28 ROCHELLE -34 0455 AM 01/28 ROMEOVILLE -31 0535 AM 01/28 VALPARAISO -31 0753 AM 01/28 AURORA AIRPORT /SUGAR GROVE/ -31 0152 AM 01/28 CHICAGO DOWNTOWN /NORTHERLY IS/ -30 0600 AM 01/28 MORRIS -30 0655 AM 01/28 CHICAGO OHARE AIRPORT -30 0651 AM 01/28 DUPAGE AIRPORT -30 0952 PM 01/27 LANSING -29 0555 AM 01/28 RENSSELAER -29 0515 AM 01/28 ROCKFORD -28 1100 PM 01/27 KANKAKEE -28 0735 AM 01/28 CHICAGO MIDWAY AIRPORT -28 0651 AM 01/28 JOLIET -27 0515 AM 01/28 WAUKEGAN -27 0652 AM 01/28 PERU -26 0555 AM 01/28 WHEELING -26 0652 AM 01/28 $$
January 27th Morning:
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO IL 958 AM CST MON JAN 27 2014 /1058 AM EST MON JAN 27 2014/ ...LOWEST WIND CHILLS THROUGH 930 AM JANUARY 27TH... OBSERVATIONS ARE COLLECTED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES WITH VARYING EQUIPMENT AND EXPOSURE. NOT ALL DATA LISTED ARE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL. LOCATION TEMP TIME/DATE ------------------------------------------------------ DE KALB -33 0915 AM 01/27 2 SSE STEWARD -33 0830 AM 01/27 ROCKFORD -28 0854 AM 01/27 ROCHELLE -28 0855 AM 01/27 DUPAGE AIRPORT -28 0752 AM 01/27 AURORA AIRPORT /SUGAR GROVE/ -28 0905 AM 01/27 MORRIS -27 0835 AM 01/27 ROMEOVILLE -27 0815 AM 01/27 PERU -26 0935 AM 01/27 CHICAGO OHARE AIRPORT -26 0851 AM 01/27 KANKAKEE -25 0815 AM 01/27 PONTIAC -25 0755 AM 01/27 VALPARAISO -25 0853 AM 01/27 JOLIET -24 0755 AM 01/27 PAXTON -24 0632 AM 01/27 CHICAGO MIDWAY AIRPORT -24 0851 AM 01/27 LANSING -23 0935 AM 01/27 WHEELING -23 0934 AM 01/27 GARY -22 0745 AM 01/27 RENSSELAER -20 0515 AM 01/27 $$ MTF
Highest Wind Gusts From January 26th
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO IL 912 AM CST MON JAN 27 2014 /1012 AM EST MON JAN 27 2014/ ...HIGHEST WIND GUSTS FROM THE NIGHT OF JANUARY 26TH... THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF MAXIMUM WIND GUSTS...IN MPH...ALONG AND IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE ARCTIC COLD FRONT THAT MOVED THROUGH THE REGION ON SUNDAY EVENING JANUARY 26TH. OBSERVATIONS ARE COLLECTED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES WITH VARYING EQUIPMENT AND EXPOSURE. NOT ALL DATA LISTED ARE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL. LOCATION SPEED TIME/DATE ------------------------------------------------------ PAXTON 65 1117 PM 01/26 GARY 58 0945 PM 01/26 2 SSE STEWARD 58 1000 PM 01/26 1 SSW OTTAWA 56 1000 PM 01/26 PONTIAC 55 1015 PM 01/26 AURORA AIRPORT /SUGAR GROVE/ 54 0811 PM 01/26 VALPARAISO 53 1058 PM 01/26 ROCKFORD 52 0716 PM 01/26 PERU 52 0735 PM 01/26 ROCHELLE 49 0735 PM 01/26 MORRIS 48 1035 PM 01/26 ROMEOVILLE 48 1035 PM 01/26 DE KALB 48 1015 PM 01/26 DUPAGE AIRPORT 47 1026 PM 01/26 LANSING 45 0955 PM 01/26 RENSSELAER 45 1015 PM 01/26 KANKAKEE 44 1135 PM 01/26 CHICAGO OHARE AIRPORT 44 0818 PM 01/26 WHEELING 43 0803 PM 01/26 CHICAGO MIDWAY AIRPORT 40 1027 PM 01/26 WAUKEGAN 39 1213 AM 01/27 JOLIET 36 1135 PM 01/26 $$ MTF