Stuck in the snow...
Posted on 01/31/2011 4:52:45 AM PST by sleeper-has-awakened
Chicago meteorologists plan to bring cots and a change of clothes to work this week as a massive blizzard is expected to dump up to 20 inches of snow starting Tuesday.
A blizzard watch will be in effect starting Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday afternoon for all of northeastern Illinois, according to the National Weather Service.
Current forecasts predict about 20 inches of snow for portions of southern Cook, DuPage, Kane and Will Counties and 18 inches for most of northeastern Illinois.
“I wouldn't want to be trying to get anywhere,” said Bill Nelson, Observation Program Leader for the National Weather Service. “We are planning on bringing in a couple of cots in case we get stuck.”
Light snow is expected to begin falling Monday night, but the heavy snowfall will begin falling midday Tuesday and through Wednesday afternoon.
Meteorologists predict the blizzard will produce whiteout conditions as 40 to 45 mph winds combine with snow falling at a pace of 2 to 4 inches per hour during portions of the storm, Nelson said.
The biggest storm to ever hit Chicago totaled 23 inches in 1967, but meteorologists predict the upcoming blizzard might break records.
“If everything pans out like we think right now, it will be right there at the top,” Nelson said.
The storm is expected to die down early Wednesday afternoon, but lake effect snow might persist into Wednesday night on the Illinois side of the lake before shifting into northwestern Indiana.
The weather service said the heavy snowfall combined with high winds could create whiteout conditions, particularly on Tuesday night into Wednesday, making driving extremely dangerous in some areas. Snow drifts of 5 feet to 10 feet are possible. The service said winds on Tuesday could reach up to 60 mph in open areas and near Lake Michigan.
Once the storm has moved through, bitterly cold temperatures are expected to grip much of the region.
Meteorologists warn of “nearly impossible” travel conditions during the peak of the storm Tuesday afternoon and night and airlines have taken precautionary measures as forecasts come in.
Multiple airlines are relaxing their rebooking policies by offering travel waivers for passengers scheduled to fly to from or through O'Hare International Airport between Tuesday and Thursday.
Only two Chicago snowstorms have ever topped 20 inches, with the last occurring in 1999 when 21.6 inches fell between Jan. 1 and 3.
“As they say, stay tuned,” Nelson said.
Yeah, easy communications make it so.
-- I have family in Marshall, albion, jackson, parma, homer, et al. --
Those are the "big" cities. So many small towns in between.
I moved from there, to Maine, in '84. Similar weather, but here, in Maine, I get access to mountains and ocean.
Stuck in the snow...
De/sky is falling!!!!!
Detroit has about 11% of the entire state’s population in one concentrated sewer. While it isn’t fair to paint all people from Michigan with the antics that happen there, between the unions and the black democrats Detroit has a significant effect on the rest of the state. in the 2008 election 0 won 57% to 41% primarily due to Detroit. We have the same problem with Atlanta, except that Atlanta while run just as poorly and just as corrupt as Detroit has less than half as many people (about 400,000), so with Georgia having a slightly higher population than Michigan and Atlanta having less than half as many people as Detroit, the urbam black Democrat effect is significnatly reduced. (BTW EVERY statewide elected office went Republican in GA in the last election - somthing that hasn’t happened since the reconstruction)
There was a little baby boom in my family after the blizzard in 1978 (Cincinnati).
Real small. For the three of us, I’m betting we were all born at Sheldon Memorial.
I grew up and graduated from AHS in 1976. College and some time away brought me back to Albion in 1987 to work for CP. I’m working in Chicago since 2001 but have family (both sides) in Albion, Homer, Jackson and Sturgis
Yep. Dr Keefer delivered me at Sheldon Memorial.
yep, sheldon..october, 1963
grandparents lived in albion for close to 40 years..my grandad retired from union steel in 1977...they lived on south eaton street, not far from the river.
they are both passed now, but I have another grandma that is in marshall, and numerous cousins all over the area. family had property just west of pulaski...hunted whitetails there for years. my mom grew up in springport, my dad in homer.
We...are...all...gonna...die.
Make that welfare cities. The GOP takeover of Michigan was unprecedented.
How is that going? I suspect the National Guard will have to be deployed along 8 Mile Road before all is said and done.
Where I was in 67 a blizzard was not in my thoughts. I think it got down to the mid 60's one of those January nights.
I don't remember letters from home mentioning it either, but snow was kind of normal for winter.
NOthing will ever beat the Blizzard of ‘77 in Buffalo NY...
That’s the one I remember here in Michigan. I was only 3 years old in 67.
Rick Snyder is a typical Ann Arbor “republican” but hopefully we’ll overcome his stupidity in the legislature.
***Rather bold prediction to talk about accumulations of over 20 inches.***
Back in March 14, 1968, the local weatherman from Tulsa Oklahoma precicted a “dry front” was to pass through. We ended up with two feet of blown snow on the ground. All of NE Oklahoma and NW Arkansas were snowed in for about a week with power out for a long time.
Back then no one had a 4-WD drive vehicle.
Just as the tornadoes led governments to upgrade their warning systems, the blizzard led many municipalities to add equipment to their fleets. I remember being sent home from school on Thursday and we had snow days Friday & even Monday. I don't ever think we had two snow days in a row after that. I heard stories of friends’ dads being stuck downtown for a couple of days. My uncle walked a couple of miles to get us bread and milk since the local store was empty. The streets started to be cleared by the weekend, but cars were buried. The 1967 storm is probably the most-remembered event of my generation.
Remember when The Point was completely covered with ice? That was fun to walk on.
I bought a retirement home with 20 acre’s 8 miles from Ontonagan two years ago. Starting in November everyday is a blizzard. Best Deer and Grouse hunting on the planet though.
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