Right now, the eastern portion of the Chicago area is in midst of a classic lake effect snow event. When a band of heavy snow moves in the visibility drops to near zero and the snow falls at a rate of 1-2 inches per hour. After about 15 or 20 minutes the band passes through, the snow becomes quite light and the visibility improves to 2 or 3 miles. At times there is even a hint of some sun trying to break through the snowy overcast.
In Arlington Heights snowfall from the storm system itself totaled about 8 inches as of 7 a.m. this morning. Now with the additional lake effect, another 3 or 4 inches of snow have fallen with the storm total here approaching one foot. Northeast winds are becoming strong and gusty and blowing and drifting is starting to become a serious problem.
At noon the radar indicated that these lake effect snow bands extended at least as far north as Green Bay, Wisconsin, so periods of lake effect snow should continue well into the afternoon hours until the snow bands finally pull east of the area.
Steve Kahn WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune Meteorologist
