2011-02-01-Weather-Blizzard

A MONSTER STORM SYSTEM produced a BLIZZARD for our area during Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning February 1st and 2nd.  This storm could be seen extending from New Mexico to New York.  During much of the day Tuesday and before the storm even reached the Chicagoland region, we received lake effect snow showers.  At approximately 3 pm, the bulk of the storm entered the area and started to produce heavy snow showers at a rate of 4 inches an hour along with THUNDER.  To compound the storm’s intensity,  winds at 50 mph accompanied it.  At the conclusion of the storm, we again received lake effect snow showers late into Wednesday morning.

Looking back at this storm event, the total amount of snow to fall on the area was 20.2 inches.  This was the official reading at O’Hare airport.   2011-02-01-03-NWS-SR-CoCoRaHS Other areas received similiar totals; Palatine 18 inches, Inverness 21.3 inches, Arlington Heights 20 inches and Hoffman Estates 19.5.  It was determined that since the 1800’s we have only received this amount of snowfall three other times; 1967 – 23 inches, 1979 – 18.8 inches and 1999 – 21.6 inches.

Palatine Township Road District’s crew work effectively and efficiently to remove the storm’s snowfall.  They started early Tuesday morning by removing the lake effect snow and by Wednesday evening all the roads that are maintained by the Road District were open and accessible to the residents and emergency vehicles.  It was great to see that most of the residents took  initiative in staying off the roads during the storm and immediately afterward.  This allowed for safer and effective snow clearing.  It was also encouraging to see neighbors helping neighbors with snow removal from driveways and walkways.  This storm battle was truly a cooperative effort and everyone should be commended for their effort.