WEATHER SNAP SHOTS: February 2007 Archives

Carolyn Szepanski was kind enough to share the photos below, which she took Saturday night (Feb. 24) of the icy weather that hit Whiting, Ind. Up to a half inch of ice collected on surfaces such as the tree shown below. Thanks Carolyn for sharing these photos with us!
—WGN-TV Weather Center

WGN-TV Weather Center intern Brad Holz shares these amazing pictures of shelf ice on Lake Michigan's Indiana shore. Brad tells us:

“The ice was especially extensive this February due to the long string of days with below freezing temperatures a few weeks ago. When temperatures begin to drop, the water closest to the shore freezes more quickly than the deeper water further out. As the shallow water freezes, waves continue to lap against the ice and form extravagant ice shelves and even caves!”-Brad Holz

PHOTO COURTESY: Brad Holz

This morning's fog, the product of an atmosphere saturated in recent days by the moisture off melting snow, prompted ice fog advisories in areas surrounding Chicago. Nighttime cooling lowered temperatures to the dewpoints prompting fog formation in the shallow layer of cold air which hugged what remained of the area's snowpack. This morning's sub-freezing temperatures and supercooled water droplets combined to produce some stunning scenes as they accumulated on colder outdoor surfaces —as illustrated in these photographs submitted to us by Amanda Pickett of Crown Point, Indiana.

Visibilities dropped below 1/4 mile in many of Chicago's west and southern suburbs--including thbe Fox Valley area south to Joliet and Kankakee. But, COOP observers in sections of northern Indiana reported visibilities Wednesday morning as low as 1/8 mile and, in spots, just 100 feet! Fog diminished as daytime warming pushed afternoon temperatures toward 50-degrees, the mildest readings here in 6 weeks. Northerly Island on Chicago's lakefront reached 50-degrees at 3 P.M. Many thanks, Amanda, for sharing these beautiful images with us!

-Tom Skilling

PHOTO CREDIT: Amanda Pickett

Gary Watson of Elk Grove Village shares this revealing photograph of the ice buildup on Lake Michigan in the just concluded 3 week cycle of frigid air. The airport in the foreground is the Gary Airport, he tells us. Thanks for sharing this with us, Gary! -Tom Skilling PHOTO CREDIT: Gary Watson

From west-suburban Westmont comes this shot from Dee Adams of her Australian Shepherd "Blue" measuring the new fallen snow. Thanks Dee! -Tom Skilling PHOTO CREDIT: Dee Adams

Craig and Bridget Runner of Limestone, Illinois (south of Kankakee) share this amusing photo with us. While area snow enthusiasts are celebrating one of this winter's few snows--and quite a snow at that—many forced to brave the high winds, snow and frigid temperatures either as part of their work or during the storm-slowed commuter periods of recent days no doubt agree wholeheartedly with the Runners. Thanks Craig and Bridget for sharing this shot with us!

PHOTO CREDIT: Craig and Bridget Runner

Total storm snowfall in Chicago proper ended up at a record breaking 11.9" at Midway Airport and 10.2" at O'Hare. Midway's total sets a new record for the most calendar day snow in February and while O'Hare's total establishes a new record for February 13 and joins only 24 other 6"+ calendar day storms on the books since official snow records began here in the 1884-85 season—122 years ago!

Other impressive area totals included 12.6" at Whiting, Indiana, 11" at Oak Brook and Arlington Heights, 10" at Northbrook and Cedar Lake in Indiana and 9" at Wilmington, IL in Will County. We really appreciate all of our WGN observers and the National Weather Service-Chicago's dedicated staff and COOP observers for the wonderful and timely reports of snow during the 3 day storm.

Hats off to all of the area's snow removal teams who braved gale force wind gusts and near blizzard conditions. Our City of Chicago Streets and Sanitation crews took on a nearly impossible mission in their effort to keep Lakeshore Drive as well as the rest of the city's thoroughfares open in the midst of blizzard strength wind gusts exceeding 40 m.p.h. on the lakefront and visibilities Tuesday frequently at 1/4 mile or less. Wednesday's fast fading lake-effect snows made this morning's rush hour the third major commute period in a row dealt a blow by this winter's windiest and longest lasting snow event.

The roaring winds which accompanied Tuesday's snowstorm piled drifts up to the windows at Northern Illinois University as captured in this photo taken by meteorology major and former WGN-TV weather office intern Bill Oswald. PHOTO COURTESY: Bill Oswald

Mary Anne Best shares these shots of today's windy winter storm from Remington, Indiana. Thanks Mary Anne! Tom Skilling

Snowstorm turns to a full blown blizzard downstate in Illinois and Indiana as winds gust as high as 50+ m.p.h. downstate One look at these shots from National Weather Service COOP observer in Mt. Pulaski, Illinois leaves little doubt how hard Tuesday's wintry storm has hit the area. Many thanks for sending these to us, Chris! Tom Skilling PHOTO COURTESY: Chris Neaville

Snow plows at work in Chicago Tuesday morning

Thanks to Brian Bessler for sharing this unique photo with us!
—WGN-TV Weather Center

Tuesday's snowfall totaled 7" at Remington about 70 miles south southeast of Chicago in northwest Indiana turning it into a veritable winter wonderland. Many thanks to Mary Anne Best for sharing these photos.

PHOTO COURTESY: Mary Anne Best

John Gehr sends us this update:

Well it has been snowing off and on all weekend here by the lake on North side of Holland. I am not sure how much we have had or how much is on the ground but I do know there was another 1.5 last night. I believe I have 15-20 inches on ground. There was a lot of blowing and drifting. It is snowing again as I write this. One neat thing is the temp was plus 2 when I went to bed last night and actually up to plus 7 when I woke up so the lake does have a plus side. It is now 10 out with a 2 dew point. Here is a pic I took this morning while shoveling.

Thanks for update and wonderful photos, John!
--Tom Skilling

PHOTO COURTESY: John Gehr

Troy Clark of Fairview, N.C., provides this photo from the deck of his house (elevation 3,700 feet) at sunrise Friday, Feb. 2, 2007. Fog and low clouds fill the valley below his house. Thanks Troy for sharing your picture!
—WGN-TV Weather Center