Blizzard in Illinois, February 13, 2007

Name: Blizzard in Illinois, February 13, 2007
Start: 2007-02-13T02:00
End: 2007-02-13T20:00
Location: Illinois

February 13, 2007 · NWS LOT · 18 events in 18 counties and zones

Heavy snow fell across northern Illinois on February 13th with some areas receiving over one foot of snow. In addition, wind gusts were frequently blowing at or above 35 mph, creating blizzard and whiteout conditions across many areas.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 16 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 18

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS LOT wrote it up.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Chicago, IL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 12, 10:15 PM CST, 3 hours 45 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 12, 10:15 PM CST, 3 hours 45 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
1015 PM CST MON FEB 12 2007

DISCUSSION REGARDING AFTERNOON ZONES/GRIDS...

335 PM CST

HAVE MADE LTL CHG TO WINT WX HEADLINES.  FCST SNOW AMTS STILL LOOK
ON TRACK BASED ON GFS AND CURRENT SATLT LOOPS.  AFTN WATER VAPOR
IMAGERY PLACES H7 CIRCULATION CENTER OVR SRN KS...JUST E OF DDC.
DYNAMICS WITH THIS SYS CONT TO BE RATHER IMPRESSIVE WITH THUNDER NOW
BEING DETECTED AS FAR N AS CNTRL KS.  PROJECTED PATH OF THIS FEATURE
BRINGS IT ACRS W CNTRL IL TUE MRNG...AND INTO NRN IND BY TUES
EVENING.  FCST LIFT ON 290 K SFC AS FCST FROM GFS ALSO SUGGESTS PCPN
NOW TO S AND SW WILL GRDLY WORK NWD INTO RGN LATER TNGT. THIS THIS
SUPPORTS CURRENT LAYOUT OF HVY SNOW BAND ACRS CENTRAL AND E CNTRL IL
INTO NRN AND CNTRL IND.  THIS INCLUDES SERN PORTION OF FA. LESSER
AMT TO N SO WILL KEEP SNW/BLSN ADVSRY IN EXTRM NRN IL WHERE STORM
TOTALS WILL LIKELY BE UNDER WARNING CRITERIA.

PLEASE SEE WSWLOT NARRATIVE FOR DETAILS ON WINT STORM AND SNOW
ADVSRY AREAS.  WSW UPDATE WIBIS SHORTLY.

SNOW AMTS NOT EXPECTED TO BE PARTICULARLY IMPERSSIVE...XCP IN SERN
FA...BUT WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW WILL BE NOTEWORTHY. WIL NOT BE
ISSUING BLIZZARD WARNING AT THIS TIME...BUT UPGRADE TO SUCH MAY BE
NECESSARY...ESPECIALLY OVR MORE RURAL CTYS S OF I-80.

LTL OR NO CHGS TO RMNDR FCST.

MERZLOCK

&&

.AVIATION...

THE 700 MB WIND PROFILER DATA SHOWS A DEFORMATION ZONE IN SOUTHEAST
IOWA AND NORTHWEST ILLINOIS. THERE COULD BE SOME WEAK FRONTOGENESIS
AND FLURRIES AND LOW CEILINGS WILL PERSIST. THE MAIN BAND OF
PRECIPITATION IS IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND IS APPROACHING DANVILLE AND
BLOOMINGTON ILLINOIS AND THE BRADFORD AND LAFAYETTE VORTACS.
WE EXPECT THE SNOW TO BE IN OUR AREA BY 09 UTC. THAT IS FOR THE TAFS
AT MDW...DPA...ORD AND AROUND 10 UTC FOR RFD. THE SNOW WILL INCREASE
IN INTENSITY DURING THE REST OF THE MORNING. THE WIND IS FORECAST TO
INCREASE IN SPEED AS THE LOW OVER TEXAS DEEPENS AND BEGINS TO MOVE
NORTHEAST. THE ISENTROPIC LIFT IS FORECAST TO BEGIN AFTER 06 UTC AND
WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 18 UTC. ADDITIONAL UPPER AIR SUPPORT WILL MOVE
INTO NORTHERN ILLINOIS AROUND 18 UTC.  THIS WILL KEEP THE SNOW
FALLING DUE TO LARGE AMOUNTS OF VERTICAL VELOCITY. WE USED THE
LOCALLY RUN WRF ARW MODEL AND NAM40 MODELS FOR THIS FORECAST.

&&

.LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
.IL...SNW AND BLOWING SNW ADVSRY EXTRM NRN IL LATE TNGT THRU TUES
EVE.
      WINTER STORM WRNG GNRLY SOUTH OF I-88 LATE TNGT THRU TUES EVE.
.IN...WINTER STORM WRNG LATE TNGT THRU TUES EVE.
.LM...SMALL CRAFT ADVSRY TNGT THRU TUES NGT/ERLY WED...INTERRUPTED
      BY GALE WARNING TUESDAY MRNG THRU TUES EVENING.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 12, 4:30 PM CST, 9 hours 30 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
430 PM CST MON FEB 12 2007

ILZ003>006-008-010>014-019>022-023-032-033-039-INZ001-002-010-011-
019-131030-
WINNEBAGO-BOONE-MCHENRY-LAKE IL-OGLE-LEE-DE KALB-KANE-DU PAGE-COOK-
LA SALLE-KENDALL-GRUNDY-WILL-KANKAKEE-LIVINGSTON-IROQUOIS-FORD-
LAKE IN-PORTER-NEWTON-JASPER-BENTON-
430 PM CST MON FEB 12 2007

THIS PORTION OF THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL
AND NORTHEAST ILLINOIS...AND NORTHWEST INDIANA.

.DAY ONE... TONIGHT

A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT LATER TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY
EVENING FOR AREAS GENERALLY SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 88 ACROSS
ILLINOIS...AND FOR ALL OF NORTHWEST INDIANA. A SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW
ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SAME PERIOD FOR THE REMAINDER OF
NORTHERN ILLINOIS.

A WINTER STORM DEVELOPING OVER THE SOUTHERN PLAINS WILL SPREAD SNOW
ACROSS THE OUTLOOK AREA TONIGHT. SNOW MAY BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES
AFTER MIDNIGHT ACROSS THE WARNING AREA...WITH SEVERAL INCHES OF
ACCUMULATION POSSIBLE BY TUESDAY MORNING. IN ADDITION TO THE
SNOW...GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 20 TO 40 MPH BY
TUESDAY MORNING...CREATING NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS IN BLOWING AND
DRIFTING SNOW. THIS WILL RESULT IN DANGEROUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS
ACROSS THE OUTLOOK AREA BY EARLY TUESDAY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN... TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

THE WINTER STORM WARNING...AND THE SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY
WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING ACROSS THE OUTLOOK
AREA.

MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO CAUSE DANGEROUS TRAVEL
CONDITIONS ACROSS NORTHERN ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA THROUGH
THE DAY TUESDAY...WITH BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW CREATING NEAR
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS DUE TO STRONG...GUSTY WINDS OF 20 TO 40 MPH.
DANGEROUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE INTO TUESDAY EVENING.

LAKE EFFECT SNOW SHOWERS MAY AFFECT PORTIONS OF EXTREME NORTHEAST
ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

BITTERLY COLD AIR IS EXPECTED TO RETURN TO THE MIDWEST MIDWEEK.
MORNING LOW TEMPERATURES OF 10 TO 15 BELOW ZERO ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS
PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS...WHILE THE REMAINDER OF THE
OUTLOOK AREA WILL SEE TEMPERATURES REACHING 5 TO 10 BELOW ZERO.
WINDS CHILL READING OF 20 TO 25 BELOW ZERO ARE LIKELY.  THE COLDEST
CONDITIONS WILL BE ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.

DUE TO THE PERSISTENT SPELL OF COLD WEATHER...ICE JAMS WILL CONTINUE
TO BE A PROBLEM ON AREA RIVERS. WHILE NO SIGNIFICANT FLOODING IS
OCCURRING AT THIS TIME...RAPID FLUCTUATIONS IN RIVER LEVEL ARE
POSSIBLE DUE TO ICE ACTION.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SNOWFALL REPORTS FROM SPOTTERS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
SPOTTERS ARE ALSO ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY ICE JAMS OR HIGH RIVER
LEVELS.

&&

COMPLETE FORECAST INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE NWS CHICAGO
WEBPAGE: WEATHER.GOV/CHICAGO

LMZ740>745-766-131030-
WINTHROP HARBOR IL TO MICHIGAN CITY IN-
LAKE MICHIGAN-
430 PM CST MON FEB 12 2007

THIS PORTION OF THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE ILLINOIS
AND INDIANA WATERS OF LAKE MICHIGAN.

.DAY ONE... TONIGHT

A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT TONIGHT ALONG THE ILLINOIS AND
INDIANA NEAR SHORE WATERS. NORTHEAST WINDS INCREASING TO 30 KNOTS
AND HIGH WAVES WILL CREATE CONDITIONS HAZARDOUS FOR SMALL CRAFT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN... TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

A GALE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN FOR TUESDAY
AND TUESDAY NIGHT. NORTHEAST GALE FORCE WINDS TO 35 KNOTS WILL OCCUR
OVER THE NEAR SHORE AND OFFSHORE WATERS.  HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS FOR
SMALL CRAFT WILL CONTINUE THROUGH WEDNESDAY...AS NORTH WINDS OF 20
TO 30 KNOTS MAINTAIN HIGH WAVES ON SOUTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN OUTSIDE OF
ICE COVERED AREAS.

&&

COMPLETE FORECAST INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE NWS CHICAGO
WEBPAGE: WEATHER.GOV/CHICAGO

KREIN

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

18 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Blizzard, Livingston

When: February 13, 2:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Livingston forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.892, -88.558 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Chatsworth measured 12.0 inches of snowfall.

Blizzard, Ford

When: February 13, 2:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Ford forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.597, -88.223 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Paxton measured 16.0 inches of snowfall.

Blizzard, Iroquois

When: February 13, 2:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Iroquois forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.747, -87.824 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Milford 5NW measured 13.5 inches of snowfall and Watseka measured 12.0 inches of snowfall.

Blizzard, Kankakee

When: February 13, 2:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Kankakee forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.138, -87.862 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Herscher measured 14.9 inches of snowfall and St. Anne measured 8.5 inches of snowfall.

Blizzard, La Salle

When: February 13, 2:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: La Salle forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.344, -88.886 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Marseilles measured 6.7 inches of snowfall.

Blizzard, Grundy

When: February 13, 2:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Grundy forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.285, -88.418 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Morris measured 5.6 inches of snowfall and Coal City 4NNW measured 5.3 inches of snowfall.

Blizzard, Kendall

When: February 13, 2:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Kendall forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.591, -88.429 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Will

When: February 13, 2:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Will forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Plainfield and Beecher measured 8.4 inches of snowfall, Romeoville measured 8.2 inches and Joliet measured 7.3 inches.

Blizzard, Lee

When: February 13, 2:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Lee forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.746, -89.300 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dixon measured 5.1 inches of snowfall.

Blizzard, De Kalb

When: February 13, 2:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: De Kalb forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.894, -88.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Genoa measured 7.1 inches of snowfall and DeKalb measured 5.5 inches of snowfall.

Blizzard, Kane

When: February 13, 2:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Kane forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.939, -88.429 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Batavia measured 12.0 inches of snowfall and St. Charles 7NW measured 7.8 inches of snowfall.

Blizzard, Du Page

When: February 13, 2:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Du Page forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.852, -88.086 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Willowbrook measured 11.8 inches of snowfall, Oak Brook measured 11.0 inches of snowfall, Winfield measured 10.5 inches of snowfall and Wheaton 3S measured 10.1 inches of snowfall.

Blizzard, Cook

When: February 13, 2:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Cook forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Lincolnwood measured 11.3 inches of snowfall, LaGrange measured 10.6 inches, Chicago Ohare measured 10.2 inches, Midway 3SW measured 9.9 inches, Oak Park measured 9.8 inches and Streamwood measured 8.8 inches.

Blizzard, McHenry

When: February 13, 2:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: McHenry forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.324, -88.452 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Island Lake measured 7.0 inches of snowfall and Spring Grove measured 6.3 inches of snowfall.

Blizzard, Lake

When: February 13, 2:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Lake forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.349, -87.862 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mundelein measured 8.1 inches of snowfall and Beach Park measured 6.2 inches of snowfall.

Blizzard, Ogle

When: February 13, 2:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Ogle forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.043, -89.321 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mount Morris measured 10.2 inches of snowfall.

Blizzard, Boone

When: February 13, 2:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Boone forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.323, -88.823 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Belvidere measured 2.0 inches of snowfall.

Blizzard, Winnebago

When: February 13, 2:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Winnebago forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.336, -89.161 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Rockford measured 4.5 inches of snowfall and Rockford Airport measured 3.5 inches of snowfall.

What these are

Blizzard: Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Illinois in 2007 Every state in 2007 This day in weather history Warnings in Illinois, February 2007

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 18304, 18306, 18307, 18308, 18311, 18313, 18314, 18315, 18316, 18317, 18318, 18319, 18320, 18321, 18322, 18323, 18324, 18325.