Lake Effect Snow, Storm System Could Blanket Chicago in More Than a Foot of Snow

It's snowed nearly every day in February, and more is about to hit Chicago, in a big way. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News)It's snowed nearly every day in February, and more is about to hit Chicago, in a big way. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News)

Between lake effect snow and a fast approaching storm system, Chicago is about to get buried in as much as a foot of powder in the next 24 hours, according to the National Weather Service.

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Matt Friedlein, lead NWS forecaster in the Chicago office, provided an update to reporters on Monday regarding conditions in northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana.

Cook County is poised to bear the brunt of the snowfall, Friedlein said, with a band of lake effect snow “enhancing” totals from the storm. The “impressive” lake effect snow could be quite heavy, accumulating up to 2 inches per hour. Porter County, Indiana, has already measured 6 to 10 inches of lake effect snow, though the bulk is now expected to fall on the Illinois side of Lake Michigan. 

Because lake effect bands are less predictable than storm models and can be quite localized, some areas within Cook County could receive in excess of 14 inches of snow, he said.

While lake effect snow will come and go through Tuesday, the storm system, approaching from the south, is expected to reach Chicago by mid-afternoon Monday, making for a hazardous evening commute. Due to extremely cold temperatures, expect the snow to accumulate immediately and for road treatments to be less effective, Friedlein said.

“It’s rare to get this much snow with this cold of temperatures,” he said.

The heaviest snowfall from the storm system is forecast for 6 p.m. to midnight. Crews will have a tough time clearing roadways, especially with lake effect snow persisting into Tuesday morning’s commute, Friedlein said.

The NWS is keeping an eye on another storm system that could develop Wednesday. Temperatures are expected to remain below normal for the next few days, rebounding to the freezing mark by the weekend. 

Contact Patty Wetli: @pattywetli | (773) 509-5623 |  [email protected]

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