Blizzard in Illinois, February 1 to 2, 2011

Name: Blizzard in Illinois, February 1 to 2, 2011
Start: 2011-02-01T07:00
End: 2011-02-02T12:00
Location: Illinois

February 1 to 2, 2011 · NWS LOT · 18 events in 18 counties and zones

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: 14
Injuries: 2
Property damage: $525,000
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.

A powerful and enormous winter storm moved across northern Illinois with blizzard conditions across much of the area which paralayzed the region. Light snow began falling across parts of northern Illinois during the moring hours of February 1st but the heavy snow associated with the main storm system spread north across central Illinois during the late morning hours of February 1st and then across northern Illinois by early afternoon. This snow quickly reduced visibilities to less than a mile and grew heavier by the evening rush hour, when several inches of snow had already accumulated. Winds also steadily increased during the afternoon hours with heavy snow and low visibilities creating blizzard conditions during the evening hours and lasting into the morning hours of February 2nd.

Thousands of motorists and their vehicles became stranded during the evening hours as conditions deteroiated and snow quickly accumulated. The National Guard was activated to assist stranded motorists traveling on interstates but large sections of interstates, including Interstate 80 and Interstate 39 were eventually closed. Many communities began assisting stranded motorists using plow trucks and many police officers began riding with plow truck drivers to repond to emergency calls because their cars were getting stuck in the snow. Many communities also had plow trucks escort ambulances and fire trucks. Other rescue personel used snowmobiles to respond to emergency calls.

On Lake Shore Drive in downtown Chicago, a bus became stuck in the snow, which caused traffic to quickly back up in the northbound lanes. As heavy snow continued to fall, combined with winds gusting as high as 55 mph, an estimated 1,000 vehicles became stuck in deep snow and deeper snow drifts. By mid evening, most of the motorists stuck on Lake Shore Drive needed to be rescued and evacuated by emergency personel. Over 200 motorists became stranded in Lake County with 30 cars stranded when a truck jackknifed near Route 45 and Illinois Highway 173. About 60 vehicles were stranded along a stretch of Route 47 in Kane County. Between 80 and 100 motorists were stranded along Busse Road in Elk Grove Village. Over 300 motorists needed assistance in Winnebago County, including 66 vehicles stuck in the snow. An additional 78 motorists needed assistance in Rockford, with 52 being stranded. Over 40 vehicles were found in ditches or left unoccupied in Boone County.

During the height of the storm from the evening of February 1st into the morning of February 2nd, many communities pulled their plow trucks off the roads out of concern for the safety of their drivers. Many communities declared roads closed to traffic with little hope of a rescue for anyone who ventured out into the blizzard and needed help. Whether roads were officially closed or not, most were impassible.

The high winds also blew down tree limbs and power lines causing numerous power outages. A building in Rochelle burned to the ground during the height of the blizzard but the cause was not known. The roof of a large indoor golf dome south of Frankfort was signficantly damaged by the heavy snow. A piece of the roof blew off of Wrigley Field. A portion of a garden center roof collapsed under the weight of heavy snow in Naperville. Part of the roof of a church collapsed on Washington Boulevard in Chicago. On Sunday February 13th, a 10 foot section of brickwork on the parapet along the roof of a building collapsed on Westmore Avenue in Lombard. Heavy snow and ice slid into the parapet and knocked it down.

Snowfall removal costs including overtime for drivers, independent or private snow removal, was in the millions of dollars, per county. Many communities were seeking reimbursement of some of their costs from FEMA. Mail delivery and garbage collection was postponed in many areas on February 2nd.

Some of the highest snowfall totals from the blizzard include 21.1 inches five miles northwest of McHenry; 20.9 inches three miles southwest of Chicago Midway Airport; 20.8 inches two miles north of Spring Grove; 20.6 inches six miles northwest of St. Charles; 20.0 inches at Chicago O'Hare Airport; 20.0 inches in Antioch; 20.0 inches one mile west of Beach Park; 20.0 inches one mile northwest of Ottawa; 20.0 inches six miles west northwest of Marseilles; 19.0 inches five miles west of Hoffman Estates; 19.0 inches in Park Forest; 18.0 inches in Elk Grove Village; 18.0 inches two miles north of Waukegan; 18.0 inches in Sheridan; 18.0 inches in Paw Paw; 17.9 inches in Naperville; 17.7 inches in Oak Brook; 17.5 inches in Lake Zurich; 17.3 inches in Alsip; 17.1 inches Genoa; 17.0 inches Barrington; 17.0 inches in Elburn; 17.0 inches Lisle; 17.0 inches in Homer Glen; 17.0 inches in Joliet; 16.5 inches five miles west of Watseka; 16.3 inches at the National Weather Service in Romeoville; 16.0 inches in Chatsworth; 16.0 inches in Dwight; 16.0 inches in Chicago Ridge; 15.7 inches in DeKalb; 15.3 inches in Hebron; 15.3 inches near Pontiac; 15.0 inches two miles east northeast of Geneva; 15.0 inches three miles north of Byron; 15.0 inches in Piper City and 14.0 inches at Rockford Airport.

Light snow fell across parts of northern Illinois on January 31st. Storm total amounts over the three day period from January 31st to February 2nd included 24.2 inches one and half miles west of Beach Park; 23.0 inches in Antioch; 21.7 inches three miles southwest of Chicago Midway Airport; 21.2 inches at Chicago O'Hare Airport; 17.1 inches at the National Weather Service office in Romeoville and 17.1 inches at Rockford Airport.

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 1, 6:51 AM CST, 9 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 1, 6:51 AM CST, 9 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
651 AM CST TUE FEB 1 2011

.DISCUSSION...
419 AM CST

STORM STUFF (TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY)...

GORGEOUS/CLASSIC MID LATITUDE CYCLONE IS DEVELOPING OVER THE
SOUTHERN PLAINS THIS MORNING...WITH BLOSSOMING (PARDON THE PUN)
BAROCLINIC LEAF ON SATELLITE IMAGERY. RAPIDLY EXPANDING WARM
CONVEYOR BELT WITH REGIONAL WSR-88D MOSAIC SHOWING LARGE AREA OF
MODERATE TO HEAVY PRECIPITATION WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS
SPREADING FROM OKLAHOMA AND ARKANSAS INTO SOUTHERN MISSOURI EARLY
THIS MORNING. AS CYCLONE CONTINUES TO LIFT NORTHEASTWARD OUT OF
THE SOUTHERN PLAINS TODAY LOOK FOR CONTINUED EXPANSION OF THE
MODERATE TO HEAVY PRECIPITATION WITH THE WARM CONVEYOR BELT TO
BEGIN SPREADING INTO SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE CWA BY AS EARLY AS
LATE MORNING...AND UP TO THE WISCONSIN BORDER BY MID AFTERNOON.
GIVEN THE EXPECTED EARLIER ARRIVAL TIMES OF THE SNOWFALL...HAVE
ADJUSTED THE START TIME OF THE BLIZZARD WARNING TO 11 AM SOUTHERN
COUNTIES TO BETTER COINCIDE WITH THE EXPECTED DETERIORATING
CONDITIONS.

PART ONE (ASSUMING THE PIDDLY SNOW WE SAW OVERNIGHT WAS PART ZERO)
OF THE STORM SHOULD BE LARGELY DRIVEN BY INTENSE WARM AIR
ADVECTION/ISENTROPIC ASCENT. SNOWFALL WILL LIKELY BECOME HEAVY AT
TIMES WITH SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL EXPECTED TO HAVE ACCUMULATED
ALREADY BY MID EVENING. CERTAINLY POSSIBLE THAT WE COULD SEE A BIT
OF A WANING IN THE INTENSITY OF THE SNOWFALL FOR A TIME THIS
EVENING BEFORE RAMPING BACK UP BIG TIME LATE EVENING/OVERNIGHT
WHEN PART TWO STARTS.

PART TWO OF THE STORM WILL BE WITH INTENSIFYING TROWAL/DEFORMATION
ZONE TONIGHT. UPWARD VERTICAL VELOCITIES ARE FORECAST TO BE ALMOST
OFF THE CHARTS TONIGHT AS UPPER TROUGH CLOSES OFF INTO A
NEGATIVELY TILTED CLOSED/COMPACT MID LEVEL LOW AS IT LIFTS
NORTHEAST TOWARD SOUTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN BY EARLY WEDNESDAY
MORNING. ALL INDICATIONS ARE THAT VERY INTENSE SNOWFALL WILL
DEVELOP WITHIN THE DEFORMATION BAND WITH TREMENDOUSLY STRONG UPPER
LEVEL DIFLUENCE AND DIVERGENCE AHEAD OF THE DEEPENING CYCLONE.
FORECAST SOUNDINGS SUGGEST THAT VERY STEEP MID LEVEL LAPSE
(NEARING 8C/KM) ASSOCIATED WITH THE VERY COLD TEMPS ALOFT WILL
PROVIDE FOR SUFFICIENT INSTABILITY FOR EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS TO
DEVELOP WITHIN THE TROWAL...LEADING TO LOCALLY ENHANCED SNOWFALL
TOTALS. IN FACT...SEVERAL MODELS SUGGEST THAT MUCAPES OF 100-200
J/KG WILL DEVELOP WHICH MEANS WE COULD ACTUALLY SEE UPRIGHT
CONVECTION DEVELOP.

MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT ON THE TRACK OF THE 700MB LOW...WHICH
POINTS TOWARD THE HEAVIEST BAND OF SNOW LINING UP FROM
SOUTHWESTERN CWA NORTHEAST TO CHICAGO OR THE SOUTHERN SUBURBS.
HAVING SAID THAT...THE CONVECTIVE POTENTIAL TONIGHT REALLY THROWS
A WRENCH INTO PIN-POINTING THE EXACT LOCATION OF WHERE THE
HEAVIEST SNOW BAND WILL END UP SETTING UP. IN FACT...SNOWFALL
TOTALS WILL LIKELY BE QUITE VARIABLE GIVEN NOT ONLY THE CONVECTIVE
POTENTIAL BUT THE INHERENT DIFFICULTY IN MEASURING SEVERELY
DRIFTED SNOWFALL. QUITE POSSIBLE THAT THE BLOW-ABILITY OF THE
SNOWFALL MAY BE SOMEWHAT LIMITED BY HOW HEAVY/WET IT WILL BE...BUT
TOO HARD TO SAY AND WITH VSBYS FROM WIND WHIPPED FALLING SNOW
LIKELY TO BE SEVERELY REDUCED BLIZZARD WARNING LOOKS RIGHT ON
TARGET.

WITH 500MB/700MB LOW FORECAST TO TRACK FROM NEAR UIN TO AROUND GYY
AM QUITE CONCERNED THAT MID LEVEL DRY INTRUSION COULD RAP INTO THE
SOUTHEASTERN 1/3 TO 1/2 OF THE CWA...CUTTING SNOWFALL OFF BY
OVERNIGHT TONIGHT WITH A CHANGE TO SLEET POSSIBLE BEFORE FLOPPING
OVER TO FREEZING DRIZZLE. THIS IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE MORE OF A
NOWCAST ISSUE AND ONLY CHANGE TO GOING FORECAST WAS TO INTRODUCE
SLEET INTO THE GRIDS LATE TONIGHT FAR SOUTHERN COUNTIES.

FINALLY...HAVE UPGRADED TO A LAKESHORE FLOOD WARNING FOR ILLINOIS
LAKE SHORE COUNTIES. INTENSE NORTHEAST WINDS WILL RESULT IN WAVES
BUILDING TO 14-18FT WITH OCCASIONAL WAVES UP TO 25FT. THIS VERY
LARGE WAVES ARE EXPECTED TO BATTER/BEAT/SHRED ANY PANCAKE ICE THAT
IS ALONG THE SHORE AND ALLOW THE VERY LARGE WAVES TO RESULT IN
COASTAL FLOODING. LAKE WATER LEVELS ARE RUNNING 6-12 INCHES BELOW
AVERAGE...HOWEVER WITH 15FT+ WAVES THIS SHOULD BE OF LITTLE
CONSEQUENCE. IN ADDITION TO COASTAL FLOODING...THE INTENSE WINDS
WILL RESULT IN HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY RIGHT NEAR THE LAKE COATING
EVERYTHING WITH A LAYER OF ICE.

IZZI

EVERYTHING ELSE (TODAY THROUGH MONDAY)...

TODAY AND TONIGHT...THE LOW IN TEXAS WAS BEGINNING TO BECOME MORE
ORGANIZED WITH A DISTINCT CYCLONIC CIRCULATION. COLD AIR WAS
MOVING INTO THE GREAT PLAINS. THE PROFILER NETWORK SHOWS A 300 MB
JET STREAK AT 105 KNOTS OVER MISSOURI AND EASTERN KANSAS. ANOTHER
110 KNOT JET STREAK WAS OVER EASTERN TEXAS. THE 500 MB HEIGHTS AT
00 UTC SHOW THE LONG WAVE TROUGH OVER NEW MEXICO NORTH TO NORTH
DAKOTA. VERY COLD AIR WILL MOVE INTO KANSAS AND OKLAHOMA THIS
MORNING. THE SURFACE CYCLONE WILL DEEPEN AS IT MOVES INTO SOUTHERN
INDIANA BY 06 UTC TONIGHT. THE HEAVY SNOW WILL OCCUR THIS
AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. THE TEMPERATURE WILL BE IN THE MIDDLE 20S
TODAY AND WILL FALL TO THE MIDDLE TO UPPER TEENS TONIGHT. BECAUSE
OF THE INTENSITY OF THIS LOW THE WIND WILL BE VERY STRONG AND WIND
CHILL TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN THE SINGLE DIGITS TONIGHT.

WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY..THE WIND WILL WEDNESDAY EVENING. THE
COLD AIR IS FORECAST TO MOVE INTO THE NORTH CENTRAL
ILLINOIS...NORTHEAST ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA EARLY
WEDNESDAY NIGHT. WE WILL FORECAST THE LOW TEMPERATURES
TO RANGE FROM NINE BELOW ZERO TO AROUND ZERO WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND
EARLY THURSDAY MORNING. THE WIND CHILLS MAY REACH 25 BELOW ZERO
WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THERE WILL BE A LOT SNOW AROUND. WE WILL FORECAST
VERY COLD WEATHER WITH THE HIGHS IN THE SINGLE DIGITS FOR
THURSDAY.

FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY...THE HIGH MOVES SOUTH TO THE OHIO VALLEY
FRIDAY. A SOUTH WIND WILL RETURN AND THE HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL
CLIMB INTO THE TEENS FRIDAY AND INTO THE 20S SATURDAY THROUGH
MONDAY. THERE WILL BE A CHANCE OF SNOW FRIDAY NIGHT AS A LOW MOVES
ACROSS ONTARIO. ANOTHER CHANCE OF SNOW WILL EXIST DURING MONDAY.
ANOTHER SURFACE LOW WILL MOVE INTO THE WESTERN OHIO VALLEY BY
MONDAY EVENING.

&&

.AVIATION...

//ORD AND MDW CONCERNS...UPDATED 12Z...

* INCREASING SNOWFALL INTENSITY AS DAY PROGRESSES.

* INCREASE IN WIND SPEED WITH GUSTS 30+ KT BY EARLY AFTERNOON AND
  40+ KT BY EARLY EVE.

* SIGNIFICANT BLOWING/DRIFTING SNOW AS WIND SPEED INCREASE THIS
  AFTERNOON AND EVE.

* COMBINED HEAVY SNOWFALL AND HIGH WINDS TO CAUSE PREVAILING VLIFR
  AND TEMPO TOTAL WHITEOUTS THIS EVE INTO OVERNIGHT.

TRS

//DISCUSSION...UPDATED 12Z...

-SN CONTINUES ACROSS LOWER MI AND SE WI IN WEAK FORCING WELL OUT
AHEAD OF MAIN STORM SYSTEM. SOME LAKE EFFECT -SN ALSO CONTINUES
IN FAR SE WI AND FAR NE IL. LARGE...INTENSE MAIN SYSTEM STORM
SYSTEM STARTING TO LIFT NE FROM THE SOUTHERN PLAINS. MASSIVE VERY
COLD-TOPPED BAROCLINIC LEAF EXPANDED TO COVER 400K SQUARE MI OF
THE SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL PLAINS OVERNIGHT AND HAS NOW SPREAD TO
THE LOWER AND MID MS VALLEY. COLD TOPS ALSO HAVE SPREAD OVER THE
WI-IL BORDER AREA AND ACROSS FAR SOUTHERN LAKE MI IN THE LAST
COUPLE HRS.

SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL OCCURRING UNDER MUCH OF THIS COLD CLOD TOP
AREA PREDAWN. -SN OVER LOCAL AREA TO INCREASE IN INTENSITY IN THE
AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING AS STORM SYSTEM REACHES WESTERN MO BY
00Z WED. INCREASING WIND TO CAUSE BLOWING AND COMBINED WITH
INCREASED SNOWFALL WILL RESULT IN IFR-LIFR. INTENSE SNOWFALL TO
OCCUR THIS EVE INTO OVERNIGHT AND WITH WINDS GUSTING 40-50KT
EXPECT AT LEAST TEMPO ZERO VSBY AND VV000.

TRS

//ORD AND MDW CONFIDENCE...UPDATED 12Z...

* HIGH ON FORECAST TRENDS

* MODERATE ON TIMES AS SHOWN IN TAFOR TO WITHING +/- 2 HRS.

TRS

//OUTLOOK FOR ORD/MDW FOR 00Z THURSDAY-12Z TUESDAY...UPDATED 12Z...

WEDNESDAY NIGHT...VFR.

THURSDAY...VFR.

FRIDAY...MVFR CIGS.

SATURDAY...MVFR CIGS. CHANCE -SN.

SUNDAY...MVFR CIGS. CHANCE -SN.

MONDAY...MVFR CIGS. CHANCE -SN.

TRS

&&

.MARINE...
258 AM CST

NO MAJOR CHANGES TO THINKING FOR LATEST FORECAST PACKAGE THOUGH DO
EXPECT SLIGHTLY STRONGER WINDS THAN ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED FOR
TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY. LAKE MICHIGAN CURRENTLY UNDER EAST TO
NORTHEAST FLOW AS A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE SITS NORTH OF LAKE
MICHIGAN. A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS THIS
MORNING WILL QUICKLY MOVE NORTHEAST TODAY REACHING CENTRAL INDIANA
BY MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. AS THIS LOW MOVES NORTH AND DEEPENS...WINDS
WILL INCREASE OUT OF THE NORTHEAST REACHING GALE FORCE BY THIS
AFTERNOON FOR THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE LAKE AND BY TUESDAY EVENING
FOR THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE LAKE. WILL GO AHEAD AND UPGRADE THE
GALE WATCH FOR NORTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN TO A GALE WARNING.

WINDS WILL PEAK AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT WITH STORM FORCE GUSTS TO
50-55KTS NOW EXPECTED. VARIOUS MODELS CONTINUE TO SHOW NEAR 50 KTS
OR GREATER THAN 50 KTS WITHIN A WELL MIXED BOUNDARY LAYER FOR ABOUT
A 12HR PERIOD LATE THIS EVENING INTO EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING. HAVE
DECIDED TO UPGRADE TO STORM WARNING FOR SOUTHERN HALF OF LAKE AND
FOR THE ILLINOIS NEARSHORE ZONES AS WELL AS WESTERN LAKE COUNTY
INDIANA.

HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY LOOKS LIKELY ACROSS SOUTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN WITH
MODERATE FREEZING SPRAY ACROSS THE NORTH WHERE WINDS ARE SLIGHTLY
WEAKER. ICE...WHICH PUSHED OFFSHORE THIS PAST WEEKEND...IS EXPECTED
TO MAKE A RETURN TO THE COASTLINES AS NORTHEASTERLY FLOW INCREASES.
THIS MAY COMPLICATE FREEZING SPRAY FORECAST IN THE NEARSHORE ZONES
IF IT IS ABLE TO COMPACT...BUT BASED ON STRENGTH OF WINDS AND
MAGNITUDE OF WAVES IN THE FORECAST...THERE IS ENOUGH UNCERTAINTY IN
THE MATTER TO HAVE THE WARNING OUT.

BMD

&&

.LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IL...BLIZZARD WARNING...ILZ003-ILZ004-ILZ005-ILZ006-ILZ008-ILZ010-
     ILZ011-ILZ012-ILZ013-ILZ014-ILZ020-ILZ022...3 PM TUESDAY TO
     3 PM WEDNESDAY.

     LAKESHORE FLOOD WARNING...ILZ006-ILZ014...6 PM TUESDAY TO 3 PM
     WEDNESDAY.

     BLIZZARD WARNING...ILZ019-ILZ021-ILZ023-ILZ032-ILZ033-
     ILZ039...11 AM TUESDAY TO 3 PM WEDNESDAY.

IN...BLIZZARD WARNING...INZ001-INZ002...3 PM TUESDAY TO 3 PM
     WEDNESDAY.

     BLIZZARD WARNING...INZ010-INZ011-INZ019...11 AM TUESDAY TO 3 PM
     WEDNESDAY.

LM...GALE WARNING...LMZ080-LMZ567-LMZ669-LMZ671-LMZ673-LMZ675-LMZ740-
     LMZ741-LMZ742-LMZ743-LMZ777-LMZ779-LMZ868-LMZ870-LMZ872-
     LMZ874-LMZ876-LMZ878...2 PM TUESDAY TO 9 PM TUESDAY.

     HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING...LMZ080-LMZ567-LMZ669-LMZ671-
     LMZ673-LMZ675-LMZ740-LMZ741-LMZ742-LMZ743-LMZ744-LMZ745-
     LMZ777-LMZ779-LMZ868-LMZ870-LMZ872-LMZ874-LMZ876-LMZ878...2
     PM TUESDAY TO 9 PM WEDNESDAY.

     STORM WARNING...LMZ080-LMZ567-LMZ669-LMZ671-LMZ673-LMZ675-LMZ740-
     LMZ741-LMZ742-LMZ743-LMZ777-LMZ779-LMZ868-LMZ870-LMZ872-
     LMZ874-LMZ876-LMZ878...9 PM TUESDAY TO 9 AM WEDNESDAY.

     GALE WARNING...LMZ261-LMZ362-LMZ364-LMZ366-LMZ563-LMZ565...6 PM
     TUESDAY TO 6 PM WEDNESDAY.

     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY...NEARSHORE WATERS
     UNTIL 2 PM TUESDAY.

     GALE WARNING...LMZ744-LMZ745...2 PM TUESDAY TO 9 PM WEDNESDAY.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 1, 5:11 AM CST, 1 hour 49 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
511 AM CST TUE FEB 1 2011

ILZ003>006-008-010>014-019>023-032-033-039-INZ001-002-010-011-019-
021115-
WINNEBAGO-BOONE-MCHENRY-LAKE ILLINOIS-OGLE-LEE-DE KALB-KANE-
DUPAGE-COOK-LA SALLE-KENDALL-GRUNDY-WILL-KANKAKEE-LIVINGSTON-
IROQUOIS-FORD-LAKE INDIANA-PORTER-NEWTON-JASPER-BENTON-
511 AM CST TUE FEB 1 2011 /611 AM EST TUE FEB 1 2011/

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

  WEATHER HAZARDS EXPECTED:

 HEAVY SNOW WITH THUNDERSTORMS.
 BLIZZARD CONDITIONS
 LAKE SHORE FLOODING

  AREAS AFFECTED AND TIMING:

 THE HEAVY SNOW AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE FROM 6 PM TO MIDNIGHT
 FOR NORTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS...NORTHEAST ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST
 INDIANA.

 THE LAKE SHORE FLOODING WILL BE FROM THIS EVENING TO WEDNESDAY
 AFTERNOON. THIS WILL BE FOR LAKE COUNTY ILLINOIS AND COOK COUNTY
 ILLINOIS.

 THE BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH
 WEDNESDAY MORNING.

  DISCUSSION:

 THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE WITH VERY HEAVY SNOWFALL AND
 LIGHTNING. SNOWFALL RATES COULD BE GREATER THAN 2 INCHES PER
 HOUR. TRAVEL WILL BE VERY DANGEROUS. BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE
 EXPECTED WITH A WIND SPEED GREATER THAN 40 MPH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

 HEAVY SNOW...BLOWING SNOW AND WHITE OUT CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR
 WEDNESDAY MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON. BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED.
 TRAVEL WILL BE VERY DANGEROUS.

 VERY LOW WIND CHILL TEMPERATURES WILL OCCUR WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THE
 WIND CHILL TEMPERATURES COULD BE AS LOW AS 25 BELOW ZERO.

 LAKE EFFECT SNOW WILL OCCUR IN NORTHWEST INDIANA LATE WEDNESDAY
 THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY.

 THERE WILL BE A CHANCE OF SNOW FRIDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY NIGHT
 THROUGH MONDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NECESSARY THROUGH TONIGHT...
HOWEVER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SNOWFALL TOTALS TO THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO.

&&

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

LMZ740>745-021115-
WINTHROP HARBOR TO WILMETTE HARBOR-
WILMETTE HARBOR TO NORTHERLY ISLAND-
NORTHERLY ISLAND TO CALUMET HARBOR-CALUMET HARBOR TO GARY-
GARY TO BURNS HARBOR-BURNS HARBOR TO MICHIGAN CITY-
511 AM CST TUE FEB 1 2011

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

STRONG WINDS AND HIGH WAVES WILL LEAD TO HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS FOR
SMALL CRAFT ON ILLINOIS AND INDIANA NEAR SHORE THIS MORNING
THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON.

GALE FORCE WINDS TO 40 KNOTS ARE LIKELY THIS EARLY AFTERNOON TO
EARLY EVENING FOR THE ILLINOIS AND INDIANA NEARSHORE.

STORM FORCE WINDS TO 50 KNOTS ARE LIKELY THIS EARLY EVENING
THROUGH THE REST OF THE NIGHT FOR THE ILLINOIS AND A WESTERN PART
OF THE INDIANA SHORE.

FREEZING SPRAY IS LIKELY TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

STORM FORCE WINDS TO 50 KNOTS ARE LIKELY WEDNESDAY MORNING
FOR THE ILLINOIS AND A WESTERN PART OF THE INDIANA SHORE.

FREEZING SPRAY IS LIKELY WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

&&

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

LMZ080-261-362-364-366-563-565-567-669-671-673-675-777-779-868-
870-872-874-876-878-021115-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM MICHIGAN CITY IN TO ST. JOSEPH MI 5 NM
OFFSHORE TO MID LAKE-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM SEUL CHOIX POINT TO ROCK ISLAND PASSAGE 5 NM
OFFSHORE TO MID LAKE-
LAKE MICHIGAN SOUTH OF A LINE FROM SEUL CHOIX POINT TO THE
MACKINAC BRIDGE AND NORTH OF A LINE FROM CHARLEVOIX MI TO SOUTH
FOX ISLAND 5 NM OFFSHORE-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM CHARLEVOIX TO POINT BETSIE MI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO
MID LAKE-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM POINT BETSIE TO MANISTEE MI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO
MID LAKE-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM ROCK ISLAND PASSAGE TO STURGEON BAY WI-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM STURGEON BAY TO TWO RIVERS WI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO
MID LAKE-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM TWO RIVERS TO SHEBOYGAN WI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO
MID LAKE-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM SHEBOYGAN TO PORT WASHINGTON WI 5 NM OFFSHORE
TO MID LAKE-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM PORT WASHINGTON TO NORTH POINT LIGHT WI 5 NM
OFFSHORE TO MID LAKE-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM NORTH POINT LIGHT TO WIND POINT WI 5 NM
OFFSHORE TO MID LAKE-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM WIND POINT WI TO WINTHROP HARBOR IL 5 NM
OFFSHORE TO MID LAKE-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM WINTHROP HARBOR TO WILMETTE HARBOR IL 5 NM
OFFSHORE TO MID LAKE-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM WILMETTE HARBOR IL TO MICHIGAN CITY IN 5 NM
OFFSHORE TO MID LAKE-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM PENTWATER TO MANISTEE MI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO MID
LAKE-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM WHITEHALL TO PENTWATER MI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO MID
LAKE-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM GRAND HAVEN TO WHITEHALL MI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO
MID LAKE-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM HOLLAND TO GRAND HAVEN MI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO MID
LAKE-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM SOUTH HAVEN TO HOLLAND MI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO MID
LAKE-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM ST. JOSEPH TO SOUTH HAVEN MI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO
MID LAKE-
511 AM CST TUE FEB 1 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE OPEN WATERS OF LAKE
MICHIGAN.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

GALE FORCE WINDS TO 40 KNOTS ARE LIKELY THIS EARLY AFTERNOON TO
EARLY EVENING.

STORM FORCE WINDS TO 50 KNOTS ARE LIKELY THIS EARLY EVENING
THROUGH TONIGHT.

FREEZING SPRAY IS LIKELY TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

STORM FORCE WINDS TO 50 KNOTS ARE LIKELY WEDNESDAY MORNING.

FREEZING SPRAY IS LIKELY WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

&&

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

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, Lee

When: February 1, 7:00 AM CST to February 2, 9:00 AM CST
Where: Lee forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.746, -89.300 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Lake

When: February 1, 7:00 AM CST to February 2, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Lake forecast zone
Deaths: 0 direct, 3 indirect
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.349, -87.862 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An 83 year old man from Libertyville died of a heart attack while shoveling snow on the morning of February 2nd. A 48 year old man was found dead in his car in Grayslake. His car was found still running. A 57 year old woman was found dead inside her vehicle in Lake Zurich on February 2nd. An autopsy showed she died from a heart attack and cold exposure occurred after she died.

Blizzard, Ogle

When: February 1, 8:00 AM CST to February 2, 9:00 AM CST
Where: Ogle forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.043, -89.321 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, De Kalb

When: February 1, 8:00 AM CST to February 2, 9:30 AM CST
Where: De Kalb forecast zone
Injuries: 0 direct, 2 indirect
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.894, -88.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two weather related injuries were reported in DeKalb. One person suffered frostbite and a second person had fallen outside.

Blizzard, Du Page

When: February 1, 9:00 AM CST to February 2, 9:30 AM CST
Where: Du Page forecast zone
Deaths: 0 direct, 4 indirect
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.852, -88.086 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Four men died from heart attacks while shoveling snow including a 61 year old man and a 62 year old man, both in Carol Stream; a 69 year old man in Glendale Heights and a 69 year old man in Downers Grove.

Blizzard, McHenry

When: February 1, 9:00 AM CST to February 2, 9:30 AM CST
Where: McHenry forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.324, -88.452 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Kane

When: February 1, 9:00 AM CST to February 2, 9:30 AM CST
Where: Kane forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.939, -88.429 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Cook

When: February 1, 9:00 AM CST to February 2, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Cook forecast zone
Deaths: 1 direct, 4 indirect
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A 69 year old man was walking through a parking lot in Barrington, during the blizzard, and suffered a fatal heart attack. A 58 year old man from Lyons died of a heart attack late in the evening of February 1st while shoveling snow. A 60 year old Chicago man was either blown in or had fallen into Lake Michigan near Diversey Harbor late in the evening of February 1st. Several hours later, his body was pulled out of the water. A 60 year old Chicago Streets and Sanitation worker had gotten out of his truck to help shovel snow around the carts on the morning of February 6th and suffered a fatal heart attack. A Mount Prospect man (his age unknown) died of a heart attack after shoveling his neighbor's driveway.

Blizzard, Kendall

When: February 1, 10:00 AM CST to February 2, 9:30 AM CST
Where: Kendall forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.591, -88.429 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Winnebago

When: February 1, 11:00 AM CST to February 2, 9:30 AM CST
Where: Winnebago forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.336, -89.161 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Boone

When: February 1, 11:00 AM CST to February 2, 9:30 AM CST
Where: Boone forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.323, -88.823 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Livingston

When: February 1, 12:00 PM CST to February 2, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Livingston forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.892, -88.558 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Ford

When: February 1, 12:00 PM CST to February 2, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Ford forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.597, -88.223 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Iroquois

When: February 1, 12:00 PM CST to February 2, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Iroquois forecast zone
Deaths: 0 direct, 1 indirect
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.747, -87.824 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An 86 year old man from Beaverville died of a severe heart condition while trying to shovel his truck out of the snow.

Blizzard, Kankakee

When: February 1, 12:30 PM CST to February 2, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Kankakee forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.138, -87.862 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Grundy

When: February 1, 1:00 PM CST to February 2, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Grundy forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.285, -88.418 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Will

When: February 1, 1:00 PM CST to February 2, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Will forecast zone
Property damage: $250,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Blizzard, La Salle

When: February 1, 1:00 PM CST to February 2, 9:30 AM CST
Where: La Salle forecast zone
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.344, -88.886 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A 44 year old man apparently exited his vehicle to walk about one mile to his house after his vehicle became stuck in the snow on Kernan Blacktop. Friends and family searching for him found him only a few hundred feet from his vehicle. They transported him to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Blizzard, Lake	2011-02-02	57	Female	Vehicle/Towed Trailer	Indirect
Blizzard, Lake	2011-02-02	83	Male	Outside/Open Areas	Indirect
Blizzard, Lake	2011-02-02	48	Male	Vehicle/Towed Trailer	Indirect
Blizzard, Du Page	2011-02-02	61	Male	Outside/Open Areas	Indirect
Blizzard, Du Page	2011-02-02	62	Male	Outside/Open Areas	Indirect
Blizzard, Du Page	2011-02-02	69	Male	Outside/Open Areas	Indirect
Blizzard, Du Page	2011-02-02	69	Male	Outside/Open Areas	Indirect
Blizzard, Cook	2011-02-01	60	Male	In Water	Indirect
Blizzard, Cook	2011-02-01	58	Male	Outside/Open Areas	Indirect
Blizzard, Cook	2011-02-02		Male	Outside/Open Areas	Indirect
Blizzard, Cook	2011-02-06	60	Male	Outside/Open Areas	Indirect
Blizzard, Cook	2011-02-02	69	Male	Outside/Open Areas	Direct
Blizzard, Iroquois	2011-02-02	86	Male	Outside/Open Areas	Indirect
Blizzard, La Salle	2011-02-02	44	Male	Outside/Open Areas	Direct

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 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history Warnings in Illinois, February 2011

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: 281985, 281990, 281986, 281987, 281988, 281989, 281991, 281992, 282006, 281983, 281984, 282009, 282011, 282012, 282010, 282003, 282007, 282008.