Late winters in recent years have been so void of anything resembling a snowstorm, that Tuesday’s predicted 4-8" of wind-driven snow could enter the books as the city’s biggest February snowstorm in 7 years. Only one February snow event here since 2001 has managed to exceed 2". The last really impressive February snow hit on Feb. 18, 2000, dumping 11.1".
Powerful NE winds here Tuesday, produced by the huge spread in air pressures between a sprawling arctic high to Chicago’s north (30.86") and the intensifying winter storm center to the south, deliver the day’s snow horizontally and threaten to blow and drift snow, creating near blizzard conditions in open areas.
Snowfalls ranging from 2-4" near the Wisconsin border, 4-8" in the city and as much as 10-14" in hardest hit far south suburban areas and downstate, arrive in the 17th least snowy winter at Midway Airport since 1929.
-By Tom Skilling, WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist
