It’s been 27 years since a November day here has produced more snow than Wednesday’s slushy 3.1” total. The tally established a new record for Nov. 24, passing the 2.5” measured in 1947 and 1949. Although sunshine and warm ground temps are to go to work on the new snowpack Thursday, the windy storm has set the stage for only the tenth Thanksgiving on record here with snow on the ground since weather observations began in 1885.
Pre-Thanksgiving evening rush hours are always difficult. But, the storm’s 40-50 m.p.h. gusts (52 m.p.h. in Gary, Ind.), falling snow and plummeting temps proved a nightmarish combination.
This area’s heaviest snows Wednesday slashed visibilities below 1/4 mile for hours at a number of locations and left impressive snowfalls, including 4.9” at Carpentersville, 4.0” Aurora, St. Charles and Valapariso, Ind. and 2.8” at Mt. Prospect. Modestly lighter amounts (under 2”) fell in Chicago close to the lake.
-Tom Skilling
