November 20-21, 2015 Snow Storm

• The first winter storm of the season for northern Illinois and northwest Indiana left a nearly 300-mile-wide swath of snow across portions of the Midwest. Over 16 inches of snow fell across far northern portions of Illinois.  Snow began during the late afternoon hours of Friday, November 20th, and persisted through the late afternoon of Saturday, November 21st. 

• The official snowfall for Chicago was 11.2" observed at O'Hare International Airport.

• The official snowfall in Rockford was 8.8" observed at Chicago Rockford International Airport.

• Other snowfall amounts include 4.7" at the NWS Chicago office in Romeoville, and 5.8" observed near (3 miles southwest) Chicago Midway International Airport.

• A record maximum daily snowfall was set for November 20th for Chicago as 4.2 inches fell.  The previous record was 2.8 inches set in 1996.

• A record maximum daily snowfall was set for November 20th for Rockford as 4.9 inches fell.  The previous record was 2.4 inches set in 1964.

• A record maximum daily snowfall was set for November 21st for Rockford as 3.9 inches fell.  The previous record was 1.0 inches set in 1989 and tied in 2007.

• A record maximum daily snowfall was set for November 21st for Chicago as 7.0 inches fell.  The previous record was 3.0 inches set way back in 1893. 

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
1039 AM CST SUN NOV 22 2015


...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 (11/22/15)
     AS OF 10:39 AM CST

ILLINOIS                                 2-DAY SNOW FALL
  LOCATION (COUNTY):                         AMT(IN) REPORTS

  MUNDELEIN 2WNW (LAKE)........................19.0     (2)
  CAPRON (BOONE)...............................18.6     (2)
  ROSCOE 2SE (WINNEBAGO).......................17.1     (2)
  ROSCOE 2ESE (WINNEBAGO)......................17.1     (2)
  MUNDELEIN (LAKE).............................16.9     (2)
  LAKE VILLA 2WSW (LAKE).......................16.3     (2)
  LAKE ZURICH (LAKE)...........................16.2     (2)
  BULL VALLEY 2WNW (MCHENRY)...................15.9     (2)
  ROCKFORD 3NE (WINNEBAGO).....................15.0     (2)
  WOODSTOCK 5NW (MCHENRY)......................14.5     (2)
  BUFFALO GROVE 2N (LAKE)......................13.5     (2)
  ST. CHARLES 6NW (KANE).......................13.3     (2)
  RIVERWOODS (LAKE)............................12.0     (2)
  ELGIN 2W (KANE)..............................12.0     (2)
  ELK GROVE VILLAGE 2WSW (COOK)................12.0     (2)
  HEBRON (MCHENRY).............................12.0     (2)
  HOFFMAN ESTATES 5W (COOK)....................11.7     (2)
  WONDER LAKE 1WNW (MCHENRY)...................11.7     (2)
  ROCKFORD 2ENE (WINNEBAGO)....................11.5     (2)
  ELK GROVE VILLAGE 1ESE (COOK)................11.5     (2)
  OHARE (COOK).................................11.2     (2)
  ELMHURST 1ESE (DU PAGE)......................11.1     (2)
  WILLOW SPRINGS (COOK)........................11.0     (2)
  ROSELLE 1W (DU PAGE).........................10.8     (2)
  SCHAUMBURG  2E (COOK)........................10.8     (2)
  BYRON 3N (OGLE)..............................10.5     (2)
  GENOA (DE KALB)..............................10.4     (2)
  BEACH PARK 1W (LAKE).........................10.3     (2)
  ELGIN 1S (KANE)..............................10.1     (2)
  ELGIN (KANE).................................10.1     (2)
  ELGIN (KANE)..................................9.7     (2)
  ROCKFORD 1NW (WINNEBAGO)......................9.5     (2)
  WAUKEGAN 2N (LAKE)............................9.0     (2)
  ST. CHARLES (KANE)............................9.0     (2)
  BARRINGTON (LAKE).............................9.0     (2)
  ROCKFORD (WINNEBAGO)..........................8.8     (2)
  PALATINE 1E (COOK)............................8.4     (2)
  HARWOOD HEIGHTS 2NNE (COOK)...................8.2     (2)
  CAROL STREAM (DU PAGE)........................8.1     (2)
  WINFIELD (DU PAGE)............................8.0     (2)
  DWIGHT (LIVINGSTON)...........................8.0     (2)
  LINCOLNSHIRE 1N (LAKE)........................7.8     (2)
  MALTA (DE KALB)...............................7.7     (2)
  DE KALB (DE KALB).............................7.5     (2)
  DIXON 3NNW (LEE)..............................7.4     (2)
  PARK FOREST 1SW (COOK)........................7.3     (2)
  LISLE 1SE (DU PAGE)...........................7.2     (2)
  GENEVA 1SSW (KANE)............................7.0     (2)
  OAK PARK 2S (COOK)............................7.0     (2)
  ASHTON (LEE)..................................6.9     (2)
  BATAVIA 2WNW (KANE)...........................6.9     (2)
  NAPERVILLE 1NW (DU PAGE)......................6.9     (2)
  NORTH AURORA 2NE (KANE).......................6.7     (2)
  PEOTONE (WILL)................................6.6     (2)
  PEOTONE (WILL)................................6.6     (2)
  LA SALLE (LA SALLE)...........................6.6     (2)
  HOMEWOOD (COOK)...............................6.5     (2)
  BOURBONNAIS (KANKAKEE)........................6.3     (2)
  BOTANIC GARDENS (COOK)........................6.3     (2)
  STREATOR 4ENE (LA SALLE)......................6.1     (2)
  MENDOTA (LA SALLE)............................6.0     (2)
  MIDWAY COOP (COOK)............................5.8     (2)
  CRETE 3E (WILL)...............................5.7     (2)
  NEW LENOX 3E (WILL)...........................5.6     (2)
  NEW LENOX 2SE (WILL)..........................5.5     (2)
  BATAVIA 1WNW (KANE)...........................5.5     (2)
  OTTAWA 2N (LA SALLE)..........................5.4     (2)
  PARK FOREST 1NNE (COOK).......................5.4     (2)
  MORRIS (GRUNDY)...............................5.3     (2)
  AURORA 4SE (DU PAGE)..........................5.3     (2)
  PAW PAW (LEE).................................5.2     (2)
  PLAINFIELD 5SW (KENDALL)......................5.2     (2)
  MENDOTA 2SE (LA SALLE)........................5.1     (2)
  ST ANNE (KANKAKEE)............................4.8     (2)
  ROMEOVILLE (WILL).............................4.7     (2)
  WORTH (COOK)..................................4.6     (2)
  WESTMONT (DU PAGE)............................4.5     (2)
  PARK FOREST (COOK)............................4.5     (2)
  MANHATTAN (WILL)..............................4.5     (2)
  MANHATTAN 5ENE (WILL).........................4.5     (2)
  CHATSWORTH (LIVINGSTON).......................4.5     (2)
  CHATSWORTH (LIVINGSTON).......................4.5     (2)
  BATAVIA (KANE)................................4.4     (2)
  DIXON 2SW (LEE)...............................4.3     (2)
  ELMHURST 2SE (DU PAGE)........................4.2     (1)
  LANSING (COOK)................................4.1     (2)
  ROCHELLE (OGLE)...............................4.0     (2)
  MILFORD (IROQUOIS)............................4.0     (2)
  WILMINGTON 3SE (WILL).........................4.0     (2)
  HOMER GLEN 1ENE (WILL)........................4.0     (2)
  AURORA 4SE (DU PAGE)..........................3.8     (2)
  CHANNAHON (WILL)..............................3.8     (2)
  BOLINGBROOK 3NE (DU PAGE).....................3.7     (2)
  COUNTRYSIDE 1ENE (COOK).......................3.7     (2)
  LOCKPORT 1SE (WILL)...........................3.6     (2)
  MONTGOMERY 1SSE (KENDALL).....................3.6     (2)
  PONTIAC (LIVINGSTON)..........................3.5     (2)
  PLAINFIELD (WILL).............................3.5     (2)
  OTTAWA (LA SALLE).............................3.5     (2)
  BONFIELD 4WSW (KANKAKEE)......................3.5     (2)
  MARSEILLES (LA SALLE).........................3.2     (2)
  LINCOLNWOOD 2E (COOK).........................3.2     (2)
  STEWARD (LEE).................................3.0     (2)
  JOLIET (WILL).................................3.0     (2)
  JOLIET 2N (WILL)..............................3.0     (2)
  AMBOY (LEE)...................................2.9     (2)
  CARBON HILL 3.1N (GRUNDY).....................2.9     (2)
  COAL CITY 4NNW (GRUNDY).......................2.9     (2)
  LINCOLNWOOD 3E (COOK).........................2.8     (2)
  PLAINFIELD 1SW (WILL).........................2.6     (2)
  CHICAGO 6ESE (COOK)...........................1.3     (2)

INDIANA                                    2-DAY SNOW FALL
  LOCATION (COUNTY):                         AMT(IN) REPORTS

  CROWN POINT 2WSW (LAKE).......................9.5     (2)
  (W9MAL)MERRILLVILLE 2NNW (LAKE)...............9.3     (2)
  LAKES OF THE FOUR SEASONS 2NNE (PORTER).......8.6     (2)
  (W9OPR)WHEATFIELD 1ENE (JASPER)...............8.0     (2)
  HEBRON 4NE (PORTER)...........................7.5     (2)
  ST. JOHN (LAKE)...............................7.5     (2)
  LAKES OF THE FOUR SEASONS (PORTER)............6.0     (2)
  DE MOTTE 4SW (JASPER).........................5.9     (2)
  CROWN POINT 1N (LAKE).........................5.6     (2)
  DYER 1WNW (LAKE)..............................5.6     (2)
  MOROCCO (NEWTON)..............................5.5     (2)
  VALPARAISO 4SW (PORTER).......................5.4     (2)
  LAKE VILLAGE (NEWTON).........................5.0     (2)
  VALPARAISO 1NNW (PORTER)......................5.0     (2)
  VALPARAISO 6WSW (PORTER)......................4.9     (2)
  MOUNT AYR 2NNE (NEWTON).......................4.6     (2)
  REMINGTON (JASPER)............................4.1     (2)
  VALPARAISO 1SE (PORTER).......................4.0     (2)
  HOBART 1NNW (LAKE)............................4.0     (2)
  DE MOTTE 6S (JASPER)..........................4.0     (2)
  RENSSELAER (JASPER)...........................2.5     (2)

$$
ACS

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
558 PM CST SUN NOV 22 2015

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

0720 PM     SNOW             CHESTERTON              41.60N 87.06W 
11/21/2015  M4.5 INCH        PORTER             IN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0700 PM     HEAVY SNOW       HOBART                  41.53N 87.27W 
11/21/2015  M6.0 INCH        LAKE               IN   PUBLIC          

            SOCIAL MEDIA. RELAYED FROM NWS NORTHERN INDIANA.

0700 PM     SNOW             2 NNE LAKES OF THE FOUR 41.43N 87.21W 
11/21/2015  M8.6 INCH        PORTER             IN   COCORAHS        

            STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL 8.6 INCHES. 

0659 PM     SNOW             1 E BRADLEY             41.15N 87.84W 
11/21/2015  M6.0 INCH        KANKAKEE           IL   PUBLIC          

            STORM TOTAL 6.0 INCHES.

0649 PM     SNOW             WESTCHESTER             41.85N 87.89W 
11/21/2015  M9.5 INCH        COOK               IL   PUBLIC          

            9.5 INCHES STORM TOTAL.

0630 PM     HEAVY SNOW       ROSELAWN                41.14N 87.31W 
11/21/2015  E5.5 INCH        NEWTON             IN   PUBLIC          

            RELAYED FROM NWS NORTHERN INDIANA.

0600 PM     SNOW             1 NW NAPERVILLE         41.77N 88.17W 
11/21/2015  M5.0 INCH        DUPAGE             IL   COCORAHS        

            STORM TOTAL 5.0 INCHES. 

0600 PM     SNOW             3 SW MIDWAY AIRPORT     41.75N 87.79W 
11/21/2015  M5.8 INCH        COOK               IL   CO-OP OBSERVER  

            1.3 INCHES MIDNIGHT TO MIDNIGHT 11/21. 4.5 INCHES SINCE 
            MIDNIGHT. STORM TOTAL 5.8 INCHES. LIQUID EQUIVALENT 0.96 
            INCHE.

0600 PM     SNOW             ROCKFORD AIRPORT        42.20N 89.10W 
11/21/2015  M8.8 INCH        WINNEBAGO          IL   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            THIS IS THE OFFICIAL OBSERVATION SITE FOR ROCKFORD. SNOW 
            DEPTH 8 INCHES AT TIME OF OBSERVATION. 

0600 PM     SNOW             OHARE AIRPORT           41.98N 87.90W 
11/21/2015  M11.2 INCH       COOK               IL   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            11.2 INCHES STORM TOTAL. CURRENT SNOW DEPTH 9 INCHES.

0542 PM     SNOW             CHATSWORTH              40.75N 88.29W 
11/21/2015  M3.5 INCH        LIVINGSTON         IL   CO-OP OBSERVER  

            STORM TOTAL. WHITEOUT CONDITIONS WITH QUICK ACCUMULATION 
            LATE THIS AFTERNOON. 

0540 PM     SNOW             1 NE NORTH AURORA       41.81N 88.32W 
11/21/2015  M6.5 INCH        KANE               IL   COCORAHS        

            6.5 INCHES STORM TOTAL.

0538 PM     SNOW             WOODSTOCK               42.31N 88.44W 
11/21/2015  M13.5 INCH       MCHENRY            IL   CO-OP OBSERVER  

            EVENT TOTAL

0530 PM     SNOW             CHICAGO                 41.88N 87.63W 
11/21/2015  M0.7 INCH        COOK               IL   NWS EMPLOYEE    

0510 PM     HEAVY SNOW       3 WNW SUGAR GROVE       41.79N 88.51W 
11/21/2015  M7.0 INCH        KANE               IL   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            STORM TOTAL.

0500 PM     SNOW             WAUCONDA                42.27N 88.14W 
11/21/2015  M18.0 INCH       LAKE               IL   PUBLIC          

0500 PM     SNOW             3 N CHICAGO             41.92N 87.63W 
11/21/2015  M1.0 INCH        COOK               IL   PUBLIC          

            MEASURED ON HALSTED TWO BLOCKS FROM THE LAKE FRONT.

0500 PM     SNOW             CHICAGO                 41.88N 87.63W 
11/21/2015  M0.5 INCH        COOK               IL   PUBLIC          

            MEASURED AT MILLENIUM PARK IN DOWNTOWN.

0500 PM     SNOW             1 N OTTAWA              41.36N 88.84W 
11/21/2015  M4.8 INCH        LA SALLE           IL   PUBLIC          

0500 PM     SNOW             NAPERVILLE              41.76N 88.15W 
11/21/2015  M6.4 INCH        DUPAGE             IL   NWS EMPLOYEE    

0500 PM     SNOW             ROCKFORD                42.27N 89.06W 
11/21/2015  M12.0 INCH       WINNEBAGO          IL   PUBLIC          

            THIS IS A PUBLIC REPORT AND NOT THE OFFICIAL WHICH IS 
            LOCATED AT ROCKFORD AIRPORT. MULTIPLE REPORTS OF A FOOT 
            OF SNOW FROM IN THE CITY.

0500 PM     SNOW             LAKE IN THE HILLS       42.19N 88.32W 
11/21/2015  E13.0 INCH       MCHENRY            IL   PUBLIC          

0500 PM     SNOW             3 E CROWN POINT         41.42N 87.30W 
11/21/2015  M8.8 INCH        LAKE               IN   PUBLIC          

            IN WINFIELD AREA.

0500 PM     SNOW             3 NE ROCKFORD           42.30N 89.02W 
11/21/2015  E15.0 INCH       WINNEBAGO          IL   PUBLIC          

0500 PM     SNOW             CEDAR LAKE              41.37N 87.44W 
11/21/2015  M8.6 INCH        LAKE               IN   PUBLIC          

0500 PM     SNOW             LOVES PARK              42.34N 89.01W 
11/21/2015  M14.0 INCH       WINNEBAGO          IL   PUBLIC          

0450 PM     SNOW             2 SE OAK LAWN           41.69N 87.72W 
11/21/2015  E6.0 INCH        COOK               IL   PUBLIC          

            IN THE MOUNT GREENWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD.

0445 PM     HEAVY SNOW       3 NNW CHICAGO HEIGHTS   41.56N 87.66W 
11/21/2015  M6.5 INCH        COOK               IL   COCORAHS        

            STORM TOTAL.

0432 PM     HEAVY SNOW       PEOTONE                 41.33N 87.80W 
11/21/2015  M6.6 INCH        WILL               IL   CO-OP OBSERVER  

            STORM TOTAL. 0.68 INCH WATER EQUIVALENT.

0430 PM     SNOW             SCHERERVILLE            41.49N 87.45W 
11/21/2015  M6.3 INCH        LAKE               IN   PUBLIC          

0430 PM     SNOW             PONTIAC                 40.88N 88.64W 
11/21/2015  M4.6 INCH        LIVINGSTON         IL   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0415 PM     HEAVY SNOW       4 S CARPENTERSVILLE     42.06N 88.26W 
11/21/2015  M12.2 INCH       KANE               IL   COCORAHS        

            STORM TOTAL. 1.01 INCHES WATER EQUIVALENT.

0415 PM     SNOW             2 NNE WAUKEGAN          42.40N 87.85W 
11/21/2015  M7.5 INCH        LAKE               IL   PUBLIC          

0412 PM     SNOW             MUNSTER                 41.55N 87.50W 
11/21/2015  M6.0 INCH        LAKE               IN   PUBLIC          

0410 PM     SNOW             CROWN POINT             41.42N 87.36W 
11/21/2015  M7.1 INCH        LAKE               IN   PUBLIC          

0400 PM     SNOW             BATAVIA                 41.85N 88.30W 
11/21/2015  M7.5 INCH        KANE               IL   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0343 PM     HEAVY SNOW       PORTAGE                 41.59N 87.18W 
11/21/2015  M5.6 INCH        PORTER             IN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0343 PM     HEAVY SNOW       3 SW MIDWAY AIRPORT     41.75N 87.79W 
11/21/2015  M5.8 INCH        COOK               IL   CO-OP OBSERVER  

            STORM TOTAL. PP 0.96.

0341 PM     HEAVY SNOW       MUNDELEIN               42.27N 88.00W 
11/21/2015  M16.9 INCH       LAKE               IL   CO-OP OBSERVER  

0330 PM     SNOW             GOODLAND                40.76N 87.29W 
11/21/2015  M4.5 INCH        NEWTON             IN   PUBLIC          

0320 PM     SNOW             ALGONQUIN               42.16N 88.30W 
11/21/2015  M13.0 INCH       MCHENRY            IL   PUBLIC          

0300 PM     HEAVY SNOW       2 N BUFFALO GROVE       42.19N 87.96W 
11/21/2015  M11.5 INCH       LAKE               IL   COCORAHS        

            STORM TOTAL.

0245 PM     SNOW             ROUND LAKE BEACH        42.38N 88.08W 
11/21/2015  M15.3 INCH       LAKE               IL   PUBLIC          

0240 PM     SNOW             CRYSTAL LAKE            42.23N 88.33W 
11/21/2015  M15.0 INCH       MCHENRY            IL   PUBLIC          

0230 PM     SNOW             NORTHBROOK              42.13N 87.83W 
11/21/2015  M14.9 INCH       COOK               IL   EMERGENCY MNGR  

0230 PM     SNOW             MENDOTA                 41.55N 89.12W 
11/21/2015  M7.5 INCH        LA SALLE           IL   PUBLIC          

0228 PM     SNOW             GLEN ELLYN              41.87N 88.06W 
11/21/2015  E7.1 INCH        DUPAGE             IL   PUBLIC          

0227 PM     HEAVY SNOW       PARK RIDGE              42.01N 87.84W 
11/21/2015  E7.0 INCH        COOK               IL   PUBLIC          

            STILL SNOWING.

Evergreen Park, IL.  Photo courtesy of Colleen Boyer.

Downed large portion of a tree due to the weight of the snow and increasing winds in Buffalo Grove, IL. Photo courtesy of Carrie Bernstein.

Downed large portion of a tree due to the weight of the snow and increasing winds in Streamwood, IL. Photo courtesy of Bill Malarski.

For more on snow bands in this event, such as the one that impacted northern Illinois, and the meteorology behind them, please visit this page from NWS Sioux Falls, SD.

Visible satellite view showing the swath of snow across the Midwest on Sunday, November 22.

NWS Chicago Doppler Radar loop of 0.5° reflectivity from 9 pm Nov 20 - 5:30 pm Nov 21.

• National Winter Storm Summaries
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