Snow on a par with Wednesday’s 3.0” accumulation at O’Hare is exceedingly rare in April. In fact, snowfall of 0.1” or more--what’s referred to as measurable SNOW by meteorologists—has occurred only 66 times beyond April 11 in 123 years of official snow records since winter of 1884-85. That means less than 2% of the metro area’s measurable snows have occurred this late in the season. While Wednesday’s 3” total was not an especially large amount, it marked only the sixth time a late season accumulation of that magnitude has occurred.
Warmth did eventually change rain to snow Wednesday, but not before as much as 4-6” covered Chicago’s northern suburbs amid howling easterly winds which downed powerlines and some trees. Mundelein in Lake County was hit by 5.6”—the area’s heaviest. But Wisconsin was hit even harder. Milwaukee’s 7” total broke a record for April 11 and nearby Brookfield, Wisc. was buried beneath 8.0”.
--By Tom Skilling, WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
