Late April Snowstorm Sets New Record
UPDATED 04/18/11 12:28 p.m.
CHICAGO (CBS)-- Barely a week ago, the temperature topped 80 degrees in Chicago. But even though the calendar almost says May now, winter clobbered the area once again and set a new snowfall record.
CBS 2 Meteorologist Megan Glaros says at O'Hare International Airport Monday morning, the total amounted only to 0.6 inches, but even that was enough to set a record for this date. It swept out an earlier record of 0.4 inches, set in 1910.
Some areas of McHenry County saw nearly 2 1/2 inches of snow, while residents in some of the north and western suburbs reported 1-2 inches of snow. Some north suburban areas saw in excess of 3 inches of snow.
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As of 5 a.m. Monday, heavy, wet snow was falling throughout much of the area – all across Cook County from downtown north, as well as Lake and McHenry counties.
By 6:45 a.m., the snow had tapered off in the city of Chicago, but snowfall continued in north suburban areas. In downtown Chicago, there were plotches of snow all along the wet ground.
Waukegan, Lake Forest, McHenry and Crystal Lake were still seeing snowfall as late as 7:55 a.m.
To the south, a mix of snow and rain was seen, while far south of the area in Kankakee and in Gary, Ind., only cold rain was reported.
The wintry mix is expected to include freezing rain in many areas, and slick spots are sure to be a hazard for the morning rush.
The rain and snow tapered off by around 7 a.m., and the high Monday will reach 43 degrees. But the weather will hardly qualify as pleasant for the rest of the week.
On Monday night, the low drops to 36, with rain expected. On Tuesday, the high climbs only to 46 degrees, with a likely chance of showers and thunderstorms.
The average high for this time of year is 59. For the rest of the week after Tuesday, temperatures are expected to exceed 50 degrees, but still fall short of the average.
And while this date is late for snow, it's hardly unheard of. The latest recorded snowfall in Chicago history was on June 2, 1910.
