For the 9th time this season, snow is falling measurably across the metro area. While hardly a major storm here, the system generated an impressive 9” accumulation at Morganville, Kan., and up to 6.6” in sections of the Omaha, Neb., area. Chicago is to pick up 1-3” before snowfall diminishes to flurries mid-morning. February’s normal 8.3” of snow makes it the city’s third snowiest month behind January (11.3”) and December (8.7”).
The snow is falling despite this month’s impressive 10.9° temperature surplus. Even more impressive is the fact February’s opening 8 days have run 13.3° warmer than the same period a year ago. This is a time of the year in which temps have been barbarically cold. In 1899—106 years ago—brutally cold air settled in for five bone-chilling days from Feb. 8-12 with these daily temp. extremes: -4°/-7°, -8°/-21°, -1°/-18°, 1°/-7° and 3°/-17°. Only a trace of snow was on the ground.
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
