Chicago in for a Valentine's Day snow

Chicago's first measurable snow in more than two weeks may whiten the ground in time for
Valentine's Day (Saturday). It's true that Indiana's snowbelt was lambasted by one of
the biggest lake snows in decades in February's opening days, but that snow bypassed
Chicago. Not since Jan. 28, when 1.9 inches fell at O'Hare International Airport, has a
measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) occurred in the city. It's been 11 years since a February has
reached its 13th day with so little monthly snow on the books.
The incoming snow is being handled inconsistently by computer models -- not unusual in
developing weather situations. But, an average of all model predictions of this system in
recent days suggests as much as 2 to 4 inches of snow may fall here over a 6- to 10-hour
period beginning late Friday. Several lake effect flurries may precede that snow as early
as Friday afternoon. Winds may become favorable for additional lake-effect snow Sunday
into Monday.
WINTER'S 'COLD RANKING' SLIPS
Recent mild temperatures have slashed Chicago's winter temperature ranking from 10th to
20th coldest. Readings since Dec. 1 have averaged 20.9 degrees -- 5.3 degrees below
average and 4.9 degrees colder than a year ago.
--Tom Skilling, Chief Meteorologist, WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune