Chicago Storm

2 minutes ago, Chinook said:

no alerts for Toronto. 

What are they thinking?

rip toronto crew.

i wonder what snowstormcanuck is up to these days.

Peak wind gusts associated with the snow squall/CAA this morning...

43MPH - ORD
41MPH - MDW
51MPH - RFD

2 hours ago, A-L-E-K said:

fwiw we're lucky to have u both posting, even if joe is somewhat of an acquired taste

i'm a something alright.

For those who prefer not to bash given the challenges of these, there was a debate in the office when I was about to leave re. SQW. It's not as simple as just pushing a button.

There's a specific criteria for visibility of less than one quarter mile that wasn't really being met at the ob sites as the squall moved through areas farther north. For that reason, there was active discussion including Gino Izzi (lead forecaster), our WCM, and the other lead that had just arrived on the best way to handle things. I personally weighed in on the side of issuing a SQW for downstream areas right before I left.

From a lead time perspective, I'm happy I put out a SPS at 4:50am when it wasn't exactly clear how it would go and a graphic heads up. We also made a social media post last njght that gave a heads up. I thought something like this might be possible, if you read back to AFDs from past few early mornings, but this definitely overperformed and has been a top tier squall for this area.

Ultimately, yes, we could have issued a SQW earlier that included the rest of the metro, but I think we gave a heads up about adverse conditions and got some lead time with the SQW for the south burbs and points south and east. For very tough forecasts, you win aspects of it, lose some, and learn and apply it to future similar scenarios.

Thankfully the roads weren't too bad for most of my drive back home - only starting getting worse traction once almost into Naperville from north Bolingbrook.

Don't change bro

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now they issue a snow squall warning with it exiting the metro.

talk about late to the party. inept idiots.

perfect rush hour timing on this one too

one day when nws offices figure the snow squall warning thing out, they’ll issue one for instances such as this.

well, this was unexpected.

54 minutes ago, A-L-E-K said:

i never said when in the extended. 

so, where’s this east coast pattern some of you were whining about?

The snow showers yesterday evening resulted in a dusting of snow...

Final snowfall totals
0.2" - ORD
0.2" - RFD

…2025/26 Season Snowfall...
20.1" - ORD
19.4" - RFD

Miss south

Peak synoptic wind gusts between yesterday evening and this morning, associated with the storm system that moved through...

55MPH - ORD
53MPH - RFD
50MPH - MDW

ORD received 1.92" of precipitation yesterday, which broke the record precip total for the date of 1.18" (1935).

ORD had a high temp of 60° today, which tied the record high max temp for the date of 60° (1880).

Chicago/O'Hare received 1.92" of precipitation on January 8th, which broke the record precipitation total for the date of 1.18" (1935).

Chicago/O'Hare had a high temperature of 60° on January 9th, which tied the record high maximum temperature for the date of 60° (1880).

as some would say, buckets+++.

14 minutes ago, A-L-E-K said:

Spotted on the ground today, seems odd?

 

1 minute ago, sbnwx85 said:

I had a mosquito in my house last night. wtf?

funny you both bring it up...

last weekend while it was mild, i saw a few mosquitos outside as well.

the extended looks interesting.

Forgot to mention snowfall totals from last Tuesday's minor snowfall...

Final event snowfall totals
1.6" - ORD
0.4" - RFD

…2025/26 Season Snowfall...
19.9" - ORD
19.2" - RFD

2 hours ago, Cary67 said:

Normal should catch us at ORD by the end of the month. Assuming we don't enter another favorable window.

while the gap may close, we will stay ahead of that pursuit.

Never a harbinger, always a curse.

NE IL caught in subsidence as primary band is southwest of model guidance. Actually have light drizzle mixed with some sleet here

Profoundly dull weather pattern


.

Final event snowfall totals
0.9" - ORD
0.8" - RFD

…2025/26 Season Snowfall...
18.8" - RFD
18.3" - ORD

Additionally, a period of high winds occurred as well...
53MPH - ORD
49MPH - MDW
45MPH - RFD