March 9-10, 2023: Winter Storm Produces Up To Over 9 Inches of Heavy Wet Snow in Far Northern Illinois

Fast Facts

• A late season winter storm brought a mix of wet snow and rain to the region from the afternoon of Thursday, March 9th through the morning of Friday, March 10th.

• The official snow total for Rockford (measured at Rockford Airport) was 7.4" through Friday morning. Snow totals ranging from around 6" to as high as over 9" were reported by volunteer weather observers across portions of Ogle, Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, and Lake counties in Illinois.
  • ​For Rockford, this was the latest winter storm to produce 6+" of snow since March 21-22, 1993, when 6.6" of snow accumulated in Rockford.
  • This was the latest winter event to produce this high of a snow total in Rockford since March 21-22, 1992, when a total of 8.3" of snow accumulated in the city.
  • The snow depth in Rockford on the morning of March 10th was 7", which is the highest snow depth to be observed in Rockford this late in the season since March 22, 1992 (8").

• Air temperatures remained at or just above freezing throughout the entirety of the event across pretty much all of northern Illinois and northwest Indiana. This made the 6-9" snow totals that fell across far northern Illinois all the more impressive as, in order to receive notable snow accumulations with these relatively unfavorable temperatures, heavy snow rates needed to be sustained over an extended period of time.

• South of the main accumulating heavy snow axis, a sharp snowfall gradient was observed as the relatively mild temperatures near the I-88 corridor and farther south resulted in rain being observed for a longer period of time there. While temperatures did fall over time, they remained too warm for snow to accumulate much once a switchover to snow did happen. Many locations south of I-80 only saw rain during this event.

• Chicago's official snow total (measured at O'Hare Airport) for this event was 1.2".

Snow Totals

Map of estimated snowfall totals from March 9th through the morning of March 10th.

Interactive Map of Snowfall Local Storm Reports

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO IL
1120 AM CST FRI MAR 10 2023

...OBSERVED SNOW ACCUMULATIONS FOR 3/9-3/10...

BELOW IS A LISTING OF SNOW REPORTS FROM NORTHERN ILLINOIS AND
NORTHWEST INDIANA FOR THE 3/9/2023 - 3/10/2023 SNOWFALL EVENT
AS RELAYED TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FROM A VARIETY OF
SOURCES.

...SNOWFALL REPORTS...

LOCATION                     AMOUNT    TIME/DATE       PROVIDER             

...ILLINOIS...

...BOONE COUNTY...
TIMBERLANE 1 SW              7.8 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
CAPRON                       6.3 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             

...COOK COUNTY...
HOFFMAN ESTATES 5 W          3.5 IN    0800 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
HOFFMAN ESTATES              3.1 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
SCHAUMBURG 2 E               2.5 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
ELK GROVE VILLAGE 2 WSW      2.5 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS 1 WNW      2.5 IN    0800 AM 03/10   PUBLIC               
PALATINE 1 E                 2.3 IN    0735 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
ELK GROVE VILLAGE 1 ESE      2.2 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
MOUNT PROSPECT               2.1 IN    0730 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
PALATINE 1 NNE               2.0 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
OHARE AIRPORT                1.2 IN    0555 AM 03/10   OFFICIAL NWS OBS     
HARWOOD HEIGHTS              1.1 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
FRANKLIN PARK                0.8 IN    0800 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
CHICAGO - WEST RIDGE         0.6 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
MIDWAY AIRPORT 3 SW          0.5 IN    0600 AM 03/10   CO-OP OBSERVER       
OAK PARK 1 NNE               0.4 IN    0625 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
EVANSTON 1 E                 0.4 IN    0800 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
OAK LAWN 2 WNW               0.4 IN    0800 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
LA GRANGE PARK 1 SSW         0.3 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
CHICAGO RIDGE                0.3 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
OAK FOREST 1 NNW             0.2 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
PARK FOREST 1 NNE            0.1 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
PARK FOREST                   TRACE    0500 AM 03/10   COOP                 
OAK LAWN                      TRACE    0615 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
LANSING                       TRACE    0700 AM 03/10   COOP                 
PALOS PARK 2 WSW              TRACE    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
PARK FOREST 1 WNW             TRACE    0730 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
BRIDGEVIEW 1 WNW              TRACE    0730 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             

...DE KALB COUNTY...
GENOA                        4.2 IN    0600 AM 03/10   CO-OP OBSERVER       
MALTA 3 ESE                  3.3 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
DEKALB                       3.0 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
CORTLAND                     2.4 IN    0530 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             

...DUPAGE COUNTY...
GLEN ELLYN 1 W               2.0 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
WEST CHICAGO 4 NNE           2.0 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
WEST CHICAGO 4 SE            1.3 IN    0658 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
GLEN ELLYN 1 SW              1.1 IN    0740 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
WINFIELD 1 ENE               0.9 IN    0800 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
VILLA PARK                   0.8 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
DARIEN 2 SE                  0.4 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
ELMHURST 2 SE                0.4 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
LOMBARD                      0.3 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
CLARENDON HILLS              0.2 IN    0700 AM 03/10   UCOOP                
AURORA 4 ESE                 0.2 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
MORTON ARBORETUM              TRACE    0700 AM 03/10   COOP            
BOLINGBROOK 3 NE              TRACE    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS            

...KANE COUNTY...
VIRGIL                       4.5 IN    0800 AM 03/10   PUBLIC               
LILY LAKE 1 NE               3.9 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
CAMPTON HILLS 3 NNE          3.5 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
MAPLE PARK                   3.0 IN    0530 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
ELGIN 3 W                    3.0 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
ST. CHARLES 1 ENE            2.5 IN    0800 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
SLEEPY HOLLOW 1 W            2.4 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
GENEVA 2 WNW                 2.2 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
ELGIN                        2.0 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COOP                 
GENEVA 1 SSW                 2.0 IN    0730 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
GENEVA 4 WSW                 1.5 IN    0500 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
BATAVIA 1 NW                 1.5 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
GENEVA                       1.5 IN    0800 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
GENEVA 1 SSW                 1.5 IN    0800 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
KANEVILLE 4 WNW              1.2 IN    0600 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
BATAVIA                      1.1 IN    0600 AM 03/10   UCOOP                
NORTH AURORA 1 ENE           1.0 IN    0600 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
AURORA 2 W                   0.8 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
BATAVIA                      0.6 IN    0735 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
BATAVIA                      0.5 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             

...KENDALL COUNTY...
PLAINFIELD 4 SW               TRACE    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
OSWEGO 4 SE                   TRACE    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
OSWEGO                        TRACE    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             

...LA SALLE COUNTY...
EARLVILLE 3 S                1.0 IN    0600 AM 03/10   COOP                 
PERU 1 NNE                   0.3 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
OTTAWA                        TRACE    0449 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
LA SALLE                      TRACE    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
OTTAWA - BUFFALO ROCK SP      TRACE    0730 AM 03/10   COOP                 

...LAKE COUNTY...
ANTIOCH                      6.5 IN    0800 AM 03/10   PUBLIC               
WADSWORTH 1 S                6.3 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
LAKE ZURICH                  6.0 IN    0700 AM 03/10   CO-OP OBSERVER       
MUNDELEIN                    6.0 IN    0700 AM 03/10   CO-OP OBSERVER       
LAKE VILLA 1 SSW             5.5 IN    0630 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
ANTIOCH                      5.0 IN    0517 AM 03/10   BROADCAST MEDIA      
MUNDELEIN 1 NNE              5.0 IN    0800 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
TOWER LAKES 1 NNE            4.6 IN    0700 AM 03/10   TRAINED SPOTTER      
LAKE ZURICH 1 W              3.8 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
BUFFALO GROVE 2 N            3.6 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
LONG LAKE                    3.5 IN    0713 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
BANNOCKBURN                  3.0 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
HIGHWOOD                     3.0 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
RIVERWOODS 1 NE              2.9 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             

...LEE COUNTY...
STERLING 4 NE                4.0 IN    0800 AM 03/10   COCORAHS
DIXON                        3.5 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COOP                 
ASHTON                       2.0 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
STEWARD 3 S                  1.2 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COOP            

...MCHENRY COUNTY...
BULL VALLEY 2 WNW            9.6 IN    0640 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
WOODSTOCK 5 NW               9.5 IN    0700 AM 03/10   CO-OP OBSERVER       
HARVARD 3 SSE                9.1 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
HEBRON                       8.5 IN    0700 AM 03/10   CO-OP OBSERVER       
HARVARD                      8.0 IN    0700 AM 03/10   CO-OP OBSERVER       
CRYSTAL LAKE 1 WSW           7.8 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
UNION 3 NE                   7.0 IN    0745 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
CRYSTAL LAKE 4 NW            6.4 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COOP                 
MARENGO                      6.4 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
LAKEWOOD                     5.5 IN    0600 AM 03/10   PUBLIC               
LAKE IN THE HILLS 1 SSE      5.5 IN    0655 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
SPRING GROVE 1 ESE           5.1 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
ALGONQUIN                    5.0 IN    0600 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
MCCULLOM LAKE 1 S            5.0 IN    0720 AM 03/10   PUBLIC               
MCHENRY 1 ENE                4.5 IN    0900 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
MCHENRY LOCK AND DAM         4.0 IN    0800 AM 03/10   COOP              
TROUT VALLEY                 3.0 IN    0605 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             

...OGLE COUNTY...
BYRON                        7.5 IN    0600 AM 03/10   PUBLIC               

...WILL COUNTY...
CRETE 3 E                    0.4 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
MONEE 5 SE                   0.3 IN    0800 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
ROMEOVILLE - NWS CHICAGO     0.2 IN    0600 AM 03/10   OFFICAL NWS OBS                 
MANHATTAN 5 ENE              0.2 IN    0800 AM 03/10   COOP                 
MOKENA 2 WSW                 0.1 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
NAPERVILLE 5 SSW              TRACE    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
NEW LENOX 1 SSE               TRACE    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
PLAINFIELD 2 SSE              TRACE    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
MOKENA 1 W                    TRACE    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
HOMER GLEN 1 NNE              TRACE    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
NEW LENOX 1 SE                TRACE    0800 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             

...WINNEBAGO COUNTY...
ROCKFORD 3 SE                8.5 IN    0725 AM 03/10   PUBLIC               
LOVES PARK 2 SSE             7.9 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
ROCKFORD AIRPORT             7.4 IN    1200 PM 03/10   OFFICIAL NWS OBS     
ROCKFORD 3 WSW               7.0 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
ROCKFORD 4 WNW               6.9 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
WINNEBAGO 4 ENE              6.4 IN    0715 AM 03/10   BROADCAST MEDIA      

...INDIANA...

...LAKE COUNTY...
GARY 5 ENE                   0.4 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
DYER                         0.3 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
ST. JOHN                     0.1 IN    0600 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
ST. JOHN 3 SSE                TRACE    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
HOBART 2 SE                   TRACE    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             

...PORTER COUNTY...
VALPARAISO 1 N               1.2 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
VALPARAISO 3 NNE             1.0 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
VALPARAISO 4 SW              0.5 IN    0600 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
CHESTERTON 2 E               0.5 IN    0630 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
PORTER                       0.5 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
WANATAH                      0.4 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COOP                 
BOONE GROVE 4 NNE            0.3 IN    0615 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
OGDEN DUNES                  0.2 IN    0505 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             
CHESTERTON 4 ESE             0.1 IN    0700 AM 03/10   COCORAHS             

OBSERVATIONS ARE COLLECTED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES WITH VARYING
EQUIPMENT AND EXPOSURES. WE THANK ALL VOLUNTEER WEATHER OBSERVERS 
FOR THEIR DEDICATION. NOT ALL DATA LISTED ARE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL.

Photos and Additional Information

Photos

Links

• Adjacent NWS Office Summaries:  Northwest IL (NWS Quad Cities)    Southern WI (NWS Milwaukee) 
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