The snowfall accumulation forecast for the northwest suburbs is slightly downgraded to just under 10 inches from late Monday afternoon to about 5:00 a.m. Tuesday morning.
Part One
Lake effect snow bands failed to materialize over Arlington Heights Monday afternoon, but did develop near the lake shore, in Lake County, and just east of O’Hare International Airport in Chicago. Winds were from the North and barely shifted to any northeast component Monday afternoon, which put land-intruding lake effect snow south and east of the northwest suburbs and east of O’Hare International Airport. Lake Michigan shoreline and near shoreline lake effect snow was reported to be 4 inches in 2 hours in Wilmette and Evanston, according to the National Weather Service Chicago.
As the storm system’s low pressure passes eastward well to the south of Chicagoland, winds will be less likely to shift from the northeast and are more likely to shift from the northwest or north-northwest. This reduces the chance of lake effect snow in the northwest suburbs.
Part Two
The major snow spanning multiple states from Winter Storm Uri — as named by the Weather Channel — just started to edge from south to north into Arlington Heights from about 3:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Synoptic or large scale system snow is arriving ahead of schedule, but since the lake effect snow did NOT start dropping over Arlington Heights beginning at about 1:00 p.m., total snow accumulation may be just under 10 inches from the period of 4:00 p.m. Monday to 5:00 a.m. Tuesday.
Wind gusts will peak at about 5:00 p.m. Monday at 24 MPH from the north and will gradually taper to 13 MPH from the north-northwest by 2:00 p.m. Tuesday.
The good news is that temperatures will not dip to zero overnight tonight and Tuesday morning, but the bad news is Wind Chill will still range from 0 to -20°F.
Weather Radar) shows OR Weather Radar in northeast Illinois is clear.
[4:00 PM 2/15/2021] Conditions will continue to rapidly deteriorate this evening as the main batch of snow overspreads the region. If you must travel, be prepared for very difficult road conditions with visibilities dropping to one quarter mile or less at times. #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/1N2FpPe5cQ
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) February 15, 2021
[3:10 PM 2/15/2021]: Here's an updated look at our snowfall timeline tonight and into Tuesday. Widespread steady to at times heavy snowfall will overspread the region through the rest of the afternoon and evening leading to a period of dangerous travel conditions. #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/lRIOxp5oTF
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) February 15, 2021
[1:30 PM 2/15] Widespread steady, at times heavy, snowfall will continue to push north into the region through this afternoon & evening. Here is an approximate timing of when you can expect conditions to deteriorate (outside of ongoing lake effect). #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/97lwCNTcWa
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) February 15, 2021
For reference: Here's the camera view at Northwestern University in Evanston. This is even more dangerous because visibilities just outside this band may be 10+ miles. https://t.co/c3tLy0Ig8s pic.twitter.com/OBwtbYLjEG
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) February 15, 2021
O’HARE FORECAST …
Winter Storm Warning continues until Noon CST Tuesday
Monday Washington’s Birthday: Snow. Patchy blowing snow. High near 12. Wind chill values as low as -4. North wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Tonight: Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Patchy blowing snow. Steady temperature around 11. Wind chill values as low as -6. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 6 to 10 inches possible.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of snow, mainly before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 18. Wind chill values as low as -5. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 0. Wind chill values as low as -8. North northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 20. Calm wind becoming east southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of snow, mainly before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 26.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13.
Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 22.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 4.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 24.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16.
Sunday: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36.
Sunday Night: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 37.
LAKE TEMPS …
SOUTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN WATER TEMPERATURES
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
926 AM CST Mon Feb 15 2021
LAKE MICHIGAN WATER TEMPERATURES…
CHICAGO SHORE……….36.
CHICAGO CRIB……….36.
MICHIGAN CITY……….32.
&&
M IS FOR MISSING DATA THAT IS NORMALLY AVAILABLE.
THE MICHIGAN CITY WATER TEMPERATURE SENSOR IS LOCATED AT A WATER INTAKE ONE MILE OFFSHORE AND 60 FEET BELOW WATER SURFACE. IT IS READ EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR.
february.chicagoweatherstation.com
Chicago Weather Forecast for your MAC/PC/TABLET includes surrounding suburbs.
^^ MOBILE? USE VOICE MIC ^^
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