Indiana, 2007

Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Indiana, February 25 to 26, 2007

February 25 to 26, 2007 · NWS LOT · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

A mixed precipitation event developed over northwest Indiana on February 25th. Most areas saw a mix of snow, sleet and rain, though some areas received a quarter inch of ice accumulation.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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
5

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.

A mixed precipitation event developed over northwest Indiana on February 25th. Most areas saw a mix of snow, sleet and rain, though some areas received a quarter inch of ice accumulation. Wind gusts were frequently above 35 mph over much of the area. Numerous accidents were reported as well as downed power lines from ice accumulations and high winds.

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 25, 12:55 PM EST, 1 hour 5 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 25, 12:55 PM EST, 1 hour 5 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
1155 AM CST SUN FEB 25 2007

.MORNING UPDATE...
824 AM CST...

QUICK UPDATE THIS MORNING TO DROP THE WINTER STORM WARNING AS TEMPS
HAVE WARMED INTO THE MID/UPPER 30S ALONG WITH LIGHT/MODERATE RAIN
ACROSS THE AREA. LEFT THIS AFTERNOON ALONE AS HAVEN/T HAD MUCH TIME
TO LOOK AT THE REST OF THE DAY BUT SUSPECT PRECIP TYPE TO BE MAINLY
RAIN THRU THE AFTERNOON THOUGH SOME LIGHT SNOW BY EVENING IS
POSSIBLE. THUS MAY NEED TO PULL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS FOR THIS
AFTERNOON WITH LATE MORNING UPDATE. CMS

&&

.DISCUSSION...
525 AM CST...

THE LOW WAS OVER CENTRAL IOWA AT 09 UTC. ANALYSIS OF THE TEMPERATURE
AND WIND ON THE SURFACE SHOWS SOME WARM AIR ADVECTION INTO FORECAST
AREA OF NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA.
THE RADAR AND SATELLITE IR PICTURES SHOW THE DRY SLOT OVER ILLINOIS
AND INDIANA. THERE IS AN AREA OF SHOWERS MOVING INTO CENTRAL
ILLINOIS AT 10 UTC. THE LATEST ACARS SOUNDING SHOW THE WARMEST LAYER
OVER ROCKFORD IS FROM 918 TO 841 MB AND IS JUST BELOW FREEZING. THE
WARMEST LAYER OVER ORD WAS 886 TO 856 MB AND JUST ABOVE FREEZING.

THE FORECAST FROM THE GFS MODEL SHOWS THE 500 MB CLOSED CIRCULATION
OVER NORTHERN ILLINOIS BY 00 UTC MONDAY. THERE IS ENOUGH POSITIVE
VORTICITY ADVECTION TO CREATE ENOUGH LIFT FOR SHOWERS TODAY AND
TONIGHT.  THE SURFACE LOW IS FORECAST TO FILL AND MOVE INTO
MICHIGAN. COLDER AIR WILL RETURN TO THE FORECAST AREA TONIGHT. WE
WILL FORECAST A CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW TONIGHT FOR THE FORECAST AREA.

WE WILL CANCEL THE ICE WARNING. THE SURFACE TEMPERATURE HAVE RISEN
TO THE MIDDLE AND UPPER 30S. A LOT IS EXPECTED TO MELT TODAY.
THERE WILL STILL BE SOME FREEZING DRIZZLE...SLEET AND RAIN IN THE
NORTHERN THIRD OF OUR CWA. ISENTROPIC LIFT WITH POSITIVE VORTICITY
ADVECTION WILL PROVIDE THE UPWARD VERTICAL MOTION FOR THE
PRECIPITATION.

DID NOT MAKE MANY CHANGE FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK. THE CLOSED UPPER
AIR CIRCULATION REMAINS OVER WISCONSIN UNTIL TUESDAY. THEN ON
WEDNESDAY A 500 MB RIDGE MOVES INTO ILLINOIS. THE HIGH TEMPERATURE
MAY REACH THE MID 40S. THE CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION WILL EXIST DUE TO
THE WARM AIR RETURNING AND OVERRUNNING AND THEN ANOTHER LARGE
TROUGH APPROACHES ILLINOIS AND INDIANA THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. THIS
WILL RESULT IN A CHANCE OR PRECIPITATION BOTH DAYS.

&&

.AVIATION DISCUSSION FOR 18Z TAFS...
1155 AM CST

993 SFC LOW LOCATED JUST NORTH OF THE QUAD CITIES AT 17Z WILL WITH A
WARM FRONT EXTENDING ESE ACROSS NRN IL INTO NRN IN. THE LOW WILL
CONTINUE TO DRIFT SLOWLY ENE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT AND WEAKEN
IN RESPONSE TO FILLING UPPER LEVEL LOW.  POSITION OF MID LEVEL LOW
VERY APPARENT IN WSR-88D DATA OVER NRN IL SLOWLY LIFTING NORTH WITH
ASSOCIATED UPPER LEVEL VORTICITY LOBE.  NEXT IMPULSE ROTATING AROUND
THE PARENT LOW OVER IA RESPONSIBLE FOR NEXT WAVE OF PRECIP/RADAR
ECHO RETURNS CURRENTLY SHOWING UP OVER CNTRL IL HEADED NE.

EXPECT PRECIPITATION TYPE TO CHANGE BACK FROM RAIN TO A MIX OF
RAIN/SNOW AND THEN SNOW AS COLD AIR ADVECTS SE WITH THE LOW.  850 MB
(1500 KFT) TEMPS COOL TO -7 TO -8 DEG C BY 00Z ACROSS THE AREA WITH
ENTIRE TEMP PROFILE COOLING TO BELOW 0 DEC C PER FORECAST
SOUNDINGS.  MAY SEE A BRIEF PERIOD OF SLEET MIXED IN AS COOLING
TAKES OVER BUT THIS SHOULD BE BRIEF.  VISIBILITIES TO REMAIN LOW
MVFR OR HIGH IFR NEXT HOUR OR TWO AS LOW AND ASSOCIATED WARM FRONT
APPROACHES AND FLOW REMAINS E-SE.  AS SFC AND BOUNDARY LAYER FLOW
TURNS MORE S AND THEN SW EXPECT VISIBILITIES TO IMPROVE SLIGHTLY
BEFORE SNOW COMMENCES.  THIS PERIOD WILL BE BRIEF... AND
NON-EXISTENT IN LOCATIONS WHERE THE WINDS VEER WHEN OR AFTER THE
SNOW SPREADS IN.

INTERMITTENT LIGHT SNOW WILL CONTINUE TONIGHT INTO EARLY MONDAY...
WITH SNOW ACCUMULATIONS FROM 1-2 INCHES.  IFR CIGS WILL PERSIST
THROUGH 15Z MONDAY.

ED F

&&

.LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
.IL...NONE.
.IN...NONE.
.LM...GALE WRNG IN EFFECT NORTH HALF OF LM THROUGH 03Z.  SMALL CRAFT
ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR IL AND IN NEARSHORE WATERS UNTIL 04Z.

&&
Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 25, 12:20 PM EST, 1 hour 40 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
1120 AM CST SUN FEB 25 2007

ILZ003>006-008-010>014-019>022-023-032-033-039-INZ001-002-010-011-
019-261030-
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-
1120 AM CST SUN FEB 25 2007

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

.DAY ONE... THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

LIGHT SNOW WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE AREA LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND
CONTINUE THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS...THEN TAPER OFF TO FLURRIES
AFTER MIDNIGHT. NEW SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 1 TO 2 INCHES WILL BE
POSSIBLE BY MONDAY MORNING.

THERE IS A FLOOD WARNING FOR THE KANKAKEE RIVER NEAR WILMINGTON
TODAY AND TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN... MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

THERE WILL BE A CHANCE OF RAIN AND SNOW WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH
FRIDAY. ANOTHER UPPER AIR LOW WILL MOVE ACROSS IOWA...NORTHERN
ILLINOIS AND MICHIGAN THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT.

A FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE KANKAKEE RIVER NEAR WILMINGTON
ILLINOIS. THERE IS POSSIBLE FLOODING AT MOMENCE THIS COMING FRIDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER REPORTS OF SNOWFALL AMOUNTS WILL BE APPRECIATED TONIGHT
AND MONDAY MORNING. SPOTTER REPORTS OF FLOODING AND ICE JAMS WILL
ALSO BE APPRECIATED.

&&

COMPLETE FORECAST INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE
NWS CHICAGO WEBPAGE: WEATHER.GOV/CHICAGO (LOWER CASE)

LMZ740>745-766-261030-
WINTHROP HARBOR IL TO MICHIGAN CITY IN-
LAKE MICHIGAN-
1120 AM CST SUN FEB 25 2007

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

.DAY ONE... THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE NEARSHORE WATERS
THROUGH THIS EVENING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN... MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

&&

COMPLETE FORECAST INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE
NWS CHICAGO WEBPAGE: WEATHER.GOV/CHICAGO (LOWER CASE)

In the hours before

Local storm report, Feb 25, 8:37 AM EST, 5 hours 23 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
737 AM CST SUN FEB 25 2007

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

0515 PM     ICE STORM        RAUB                    40.73N 87.49W
02/24/2007                   BENTON             IN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            POWER LINES DOWN

0525 PM     ICE STORM        RENSSELAER              40.94N 87.15W
02/24/2007                   JASPER             IN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            JASPER COUNTY SHERIFF INDICATING NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS AND
            SIGNIFICANT ICE ACCUMULATION...UP TO ABOUT 1 INCH.

0637 PM     FREEZING RAIN    BRAIDWOOD               41.27N 88.22W
02/24/2007  E0.10 INCH       WILL               IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            0.10 OF NEW ICE OVER THE LAST HOUR. ROADWAYS AND
            OVERPASSES BEGINNING TO BECOME ICE COVERED.

0649 PM     FREEZING RAIN    S MAZON                 41.24N 88.42W
02/24/2007  E0.50 INCH       GRUNDY             IL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            HALF INCH OF ICE ACCUMULATION REPORTED BY GRUNDY COUNTY
            SHERIFFS DEPT

0745 PM     SLEET            CHANNAHON               41.43N 88.22W
02/24/2007  M0.50 INCH       WILL               IL   NWS EMPLOYEE

0748 PM     ICE STORM        RENSSELAER              40.94N 87.15W
02/24/2007                   JASPER             IN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            POWER LINES DOWN ALL OVER COUNTY.

0755 PM     SNOW             DE KALB                 41.93N 88.75W
02/24/2007  M3.0 INCH        DE KALB            IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SNOWFALL RATE 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR.

0758 PM     SNOW             BURBANK                 41.74N 87.77W
02/24/2007  M1.2 INCH        COOK               IL   CO-OP OBSERVER

            1.2 INCHES SNOW IN LAST HOUR AND 20 MINUTES.

0800 PM     SNOW             6 N WAUCONDA            42.35N 88.14W
02/24/2007  M2.2 INCH        LAKE               IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            2.20 INCHES OF NEW SNOW OVER LAST 2.5 HOURS.

0825 PM     SNOW             WOODSTOCK               42.31N 88.44W
02/24/2007  M2.0 INCH        MCHENRY            IL   PUBLIC

0825 PM     SNOW             MCHENRY                 42.34N 88.29W
02/24/2007  M1.5 INCH        MCHENRY            IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            WINDS 20-30 MPH WITH GUSTS. SLEET ALSO OCCURRING.

0843 PM     SNOW             CRYSTAL LAKE            42.23N 88.33W
02/24/2007  M2.7 INCH        MCHENRY            IL   CO-OP OBSERVER

            SLEET ALSO FALLING.

0843 PM     SNOW             STREAMWOOD              42.02N 88.17W
02/24/2007  M2.0 INCH        COOK               IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            THUNDERSNOW...WITH 2.0 INCHES FALLING IN UNDER A HALF
            HOUR. WIND GUSTS OVER 35 MPH. COCORAH OBSERVER

0900 PM     SNOW             6 N WAUCONDA            42.35N 88.14W
02/24/2007  E1.1 INCH        LAKE               IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            1.1 INCHES IN LAST HOUR. STORM TOTAL IS 3.3 INCHES.

0900 PM     SNOW             NORTHBROOK              42.13N 87.83W
02/24/2007  M1.7 INCH        COOK               IL   AMATEUR RADIO

            1.7 NEW SNOWFALL OVER LAST 6 HOURS. THUNDERSNOW FROM
            815-830 PM. MINOR ICE ON POWER LINES, TREES AND ROADS.

0910 PM     ICE STORM        HOMEWOOD                41.56N 87.66W
02/24/2007                   COOK               IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            0.60 INCH OF NEW ICE OVER THE PAST HOUR.

0911 PM     SNOW             LA GRANGE               41.81N 87.87W
02/24/2007  M1.6 INCH        COOK               IL   NWS EMPLOYEE

            ACCUMULATION IS SLEET AND SNOW MIXTURE.

0917 PM     SLEET            MOUNT MORRIS            42.05N 89.43W
02/24/2007  E2.50 INCH       OGLE               IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            2.5 INCHES ON GROUND OF SNOW AND ICE MIXTURE. THUNDERSNOW
            ALSO REPORTED. RAST OBSERVER

0929 PM     SNOW             ELBURN                  41.89N 88.47W
02/24/2007  M3.0 INCH        KANE               IL   CO-OP OBSERVER

            3.0 INCHES ON GROUND FROM EVENT. CURRENTLY HAS FREEZING
            RAIN.

0937 PM     SNOW             ROCKFORD                42.27N 89.06W
02/24/2007  M3.0 INCH        WINNEBAGO          IL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            SNOW MEASURED AT WIFR-TV.

1000 PM     SNOW             6 N WAUCONDA            42.35N 88.14W
02/24/2007  M3.9 INCH        LAKE               IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

1000 PM     SNOW             POLO                    41.98N 89.58W
02/24/2007  M1.5 INCH        OGLE               IL   CO-OP OBSERVER

1004 PM     FREEZING RAIN    COAL CITY               41.29N 88.28W
02/24/2007  M0.30 INCH       GRUNDY             IL   CO-OP OBSERVER

            0.6 INCHES OF SNOW...PRESENT WX OF HEAVY WET SNOW

1020 PM     SNOW             BATAVIA                 41.85N 88.30W
02/24/2007  M2.0 INCH        KANE               IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            FREEZING RAIN WAS FALLING AT TIME OF OBSERVATION. A TRACE
            OF ICE ACCUMULATION HAS OCCURRED SO FAR.

1035 PM     SNOW             WOODSTOCK               42.31N 88.44W
02/24/2007  M4.0 INCH        MCHENRY            IL   CO-OP OBSERVER

1130 PM     SLEET            LAKE VILLA              42.42N 88.08W
02/24/2007  M0.00 INCH       LAKE               IL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            1 1/2 SLEET. ALSO, THUNDER AND LIGHTNING OBSERVED.

1155 PM     FREEZING RAIN    LANSING                 41.57N 87.55W
02/24/2007  E0.00 INCH       COOK               IL   CO-OP OBSERVER

            TREES AND POWER LINES SAGGING. ALSO THUNDER AND LIGHTNING
            OBSERVED.

1200 AM     SLEET            BURBANK                 41.74N 87.77W
02/25/2007  E0.00 INCH       COOK               IL   CO-OP OBSERVER

            1.4 INCHES SLEET AND SNOW...24 HR TOTAL. ONE QUARTER INCH
            ICE ACCUMULATION.

1247 AM     ICE STORM        PORTER                  41.63N 87.08W
02/25/2007                   PORTER             IN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES, POWER LINES DOWN, TREES DOWN,
            CARS SLIDING OFF ROADS. ONE HALF INCH ICE ACCUMULATION.

1255 AM     SNOW             MOUNT PROSPECT          42.07N 87.94W
02/25/2007  M0.0 INCH        COOK               IL   PUBLIC

            2 INCHES SNOW AND SLEET.

&&

CMOTT
Local storm report, Feb 25, 11:31 AM EST, 2 hours 29 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
1031 AM CST SUN FEB 25 2007

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

1030 AM     SNOW             CAROL STREAM            41.92N 88.13W
02/25/2007  E1.0 INCH        DUPAGE             IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

CMOTT
Local storm report, Feb 25, 12:05 PM EST, 1 hour 55 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
1105 AM CST SUN FEB 25 2007

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

0130 AM     ICE STORM        CEDAR LAKE              41.37N 87.44W
02/25/2007                   LAKE               IN   PUBLIC

            ESTIMATED 1.5 INCHES OF ICE LAST NIGHT.

&&

CMOTT

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 winter storm, 2 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Ice Storm, Benton

When
February 25, 2:00 PM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where
Benton forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
40.606, -87.311 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice accumulations of one quarter inch occurred across many areas, with higher isolated amounts.

Winter Storm, Newton

When
February 25, 2:00 PM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where
Newton forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
40.956, -87.397 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mixed precipitation occurred with accumulations of snow, sleet and ice between a half inch and two inches.

Ice Storm, Jasper

When
February 25, 2:00 PM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where
Jasper forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
41.023, -87.116 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice accumulations of one quarter inch occurred across many areas, with higher isolated amounts.

Winter Storm, Lake

When
February 25, 5:00 PM CST to February 26, 1:00 AM CST
Where
Lake forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
41.472, -87.376 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mixed precipitation occurred with accumulations of snow, sleet and ice between 1 and 3 inches.

Winter Storm, Porter

When
February 25, 5:00 PM CST to February 26, 1:00 AM CST
Where
Porter forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
41.509, -87.073 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mixed precipitation occurred with accumulations of snow, sleet and ice between 1 and 3 inches.

What these are

Ice Storm
Freezing rain accumulating a quarter inch or more of ice, or less where it caused significant damage.
Winter Storm
A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Indiana in 2007Every state in 2007This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, 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: 18530, 18528, 18529, 18524, 18527.