Fri, Jan 28th NE Illinois/Chicago Area Lake Effect Snow Event

(3:30AM - 1/28/22) Lake effect snow is affecting portions of Northeast Illinois and the Chicago area, bringing accumulating snow through Friday afternoon.

Summary...
Over the past few days, it had looked likely that lake effect snow would be possible Thursday night through Friday morning along the Illinois/Indiana border on into Northwest Indiana. However, Thursday afternoon and evening model guidance made a significant shift west...Suggesting the lake effect snow would set up well west than previously shown, across portions of Northeast Illinois and the Chicago area. This evening and tonight we have been watching additional model guidance come in, as well as real time observations...And all of this information continues to support the expected accumulation of lake effect snow across portions of Northeast Illinois and the Chicago area.

​Forecast...
Lake effect snow has developed over Lake Michigan and has pushed into portions of Northeast Illinois and the Chicago area tonight over the past few hours, already leading to upwards of 1-3" of snowfall accumulation for some areas. Lake effect snow is expected to continue through the rest of tonight and through Friday morning, before ending Friday afternoon. The most widespread and organized accumulating snow will be across portions of Southeastern Lake, Cook, Eastern DuPage and Northeastern Will counties. Snowfall rates of 1-3" per hour and moderate to heavy snow will be possible at times. This will also significantly impact the Friday morning rush/commute period.

Snowfall totals upwards of 4-7" within the heart of the snowfall axis, with locally higher amounts possible. Outside of the main axis in either direction, snowfall amounts will quickly taper.

​Below is the snowfall forecast for this event.

JP