Early spring snowstorm bombards Chicago

After a day that brought a variety of weather across the Chicago area,
including hail-producing thunderstorms and rain and sleet, the
precipitation potpourri shifted to a heavy, wet snow across the region
by Sunday evening. With temperatures hovering in the low 30s, colder
west and north suburban areas quickly acquired a snow cover, though some
melting was still occurring in the city and south suburban areas, where
temperatures were a bit higher.
With the snow expected to persist much of Sunday night, several inches
of accumulation were expected. However, totals could vary dramatically
because of melting and the potential for heavier bursts of thundersnow,
which appeared to be targeting the south suburbs and northwest Indiana.
This system brought heavy snow to portions of Iowa, where the town of
Conrad, southwest of Waterloo, received 10 inches of snow after
thunderstorms swept the area.
The snow should diminish to flurries Monday except for some heavier
lake-effect snow that is expected to gradually shift east into northern
Indiana. February-level highs in the middle and upper 30s will be the
rule, and strong, gusty winds will keep windchills in the low 20s much
of the day.
--By Steve Kahn, WGN Weather Center Meteorologist