Winter Storm — Northern Will County, Illinois

2021-02-15 to 2021-02-16 · Northern Will County, Illinois

Wider weather episode

A strong winter storm moved across northern Illinois on February 15th and 16th, producing a widespread area of 4 to 8 inches of snow. Lake enhanced snow combined to produce a narrow axis of 12 to 18 inches across extreme eastern Lake County, much of Cook County and eastern Will County. This snow, combined with previous multiple snowfalls, caused multiple roof collapses, many to barns and vacant or compromised structures. Two people were injured when the awning on the back of a building collapsed in the south side of Chicago. One of the two injured, a man later died from his injuries.

Some of the highest snow totals in the lake enhanced snow axis included 18.6 inches in Chicago, West Ridge; 18.2 inches one mile north northeast of Oak Park; 18.0 inches in Evanston; 17.7 inches one mile east northeast of Bridgeview; 17.7 inches three miles southwest of Midway Airport; 17.0 inches in Chicago, Lincoln Square; 16.0 inches two miles west northwest of Wilmette; 16.0 inches in Chicago, Albany Park; 15.6 inches in Highwood; 15.0 inches in Harwood Heights; 14.5 inches in Thorton and in Oak Lawn; 13.0 inches in Chicago, Beverly and in Chicago Ridge; 11.0 inches three miles east northeast of Crete and 9.7 inches in Northbrook. Chicago O'Hare Airport measured 7.5 inches.

Additional snowfall amounts included 9.0 inches in Chatsworth; 8.2 inches in Lombard; 8.0 inches in Dwight; 7.8 inches at the National Weather Service office in Romeoville; 7.4 inches in Peotone; 7.3 inches in St. Anne; 6.5 inches in Paxton; 5.9 inches in Ottawa; 5.5 inches three miles northwest of Carbon Hill; 5.3 inches in St. Charles; 5.0 inches in Naperville; 4.9 inches six miles east of Ashkum; 4.8 inches one mile west southwest of Streator and 4.5 inches one mile southeast of Mendota.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 943201. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.