It was a nightmare scenario for Indiana snowbelt residents Tuesday afternoon and
evening. Lake-effect snow, fluffy by its nature, began falling late Tuesday morning and was
soon airborne in the day's powerful 30-plus m.p.h. gusts. Snowfall became heavy so quickly
that visibilities in Valparaiso -- 50 miles southeast of Chicago's Loop -- had plunged to
less than a quarter mile within an hour of its onset and remained there the rest of the
afternoon. Many areas of Lake, Porter, western La Porte and Starke Counties in northwest
Indiana reported travel-crippling whiteout conditions. Snowfall rates of 3.5 to 4 inches
per hour rivaled the heaviest snows that have fallen in Chicago. By late evening, 12.5
inches had accumulated in San Pierre in Starke County. Other early storm totals included 9
inches at Valparaiso, 7 inches at Michigan City and 6.5 inches north of La Porte -- and
snow was still coming down and expected to accumulate further into Wednesday. Final snow
accumulations could reach or exceed 20 inches in the hardest-hit areas of northwest
Indiana, and widespread totals of 6 to 12 inches were predicted by the time the snow finally
ends late Wednesday.
--Tom Skilling, Chief Meteorologist, WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
