Chicago weather: Historic blizzard cancels schools, causes travel hazards

[riversedge]

Source: ABC




Chicago weather: Historic blizzard cancels schools, causes travel hazards
Winter storm causing school closings, travel hazards
One of the biggest winter storms in Chicago history this weekend is causing problems on the road, in the air and on the rails.

Sunday, February 01, 2015 10:36PM
CHICAGO (WLS) --


One of the biggest winter storms in Chicago history this weekend is causing problems on the road, in the air and on the rails, as some parts saw more than a foot of snow by Sunday night.

Among the top 10 biggest snowstorms in Chicago history, the blizzard has caused Chicago Public Schools to cancel classes on Monday. CPS buildings will remain open and accept students who still arrive at schools. Hundreds of schools and daycares across the area have also canceled classes.

SCHOOL CLOSURES: Full list of closures......

Read more: http://abc7chicago.com/weather/winter-storm-causing-school-closings-travel-hazards/499650/

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Last week --wall to wall coverage in NYcity and East coast on cable TV--barely mentioned this blizzard in midwest going on.

[mucifer]

1. Yeah, I know. Gotta dig out my car.

[Sienna86]

2. My back feels the pain of shoveling.

It's beautiful outside but we couldn't keep up with the 24 hours of snowfall. The most snow since our blizzard about five years ago.

[alcibiades_mystery]

3. Home with the kiddies today

Luckily, my work is closed, too.

[Cal Carpenter]

4. 14 inches in SE Mich where I live

Yeah, was wondering if any of this made national news but I figured it didn't since I didn't even see it here on DU.

Gotta get to shoveling again pretty soon here. Did a round late yesterday afternoon but there's been another 10 inches or more since then....

[maryellen99]

23. Between 14-16 inches here in the Detroit area

It was the 3rd biggest snow storm ever.

[chillfactor]

5. the east coast storms always gets media coverage...

guess the rest of the country does not exist

[RobinA]

6. Just Darn Minute!

We here in the mid-Atlantic, when schools close and interstates become a snarl because of 6 inches of snow, are always told we are winter babies and whiners and that in Buffalo, Chicago, Minnesota etc. the people can soldier on through three feet of snow without blinking an eye, closing school or ever missing work.

So that was all a lie??? I KNEW it.

[riversedge]

7. Chuckle

[Siwsan]

8. Flint, MI got 8.5 inches of snow but it's also very drifted snow

I dragged my wimpy little snow blower into the house, yesterday, so that I have a chance of getting it started, this morning. It's only about 6, outside, and extreme cold turns that oil/gas mixture to sludge. Might be time to start shopping for a new one. But I'm very fortunate to have a great neighbor, with a much more efficient snow blower, who never fails to help dig me out.

I'm just glad I already had today off. I expect the main roads are in relatively good shape, but my subdivision roads - not so much.

[inanna]

18. We have a great neighbour like that too!

He offered to come over later and snow blow the driveway for us - since we don't have one.

I'm thinking that deserves a nice Tim Horton's gift card.

I'm not too far away from where you are. We got caught in a blizzard (late 1980's) near Saginaw MI once on our way up to the Soo. White out conditions, HUGE snow drifts and howling winds so loud it hurt my ears. It got so bad that Dad had to pull over to the side of the interstate for several hours until it cleared up a little. He wasn't the only one!

I know exactly what you're dealing with there. Take care.

[Siwsan]

19. Grrrr.... my snow blower STILL won't start, and my neighbor is away!

But, fortunately, I have a strong, younger brother who is coming to my rescue. I think the problem is I just don't have the upper body strength, right now, to pull the cord sufficiently to get it started. It's probably time to buy an electric start snow blower.

[Jefferson23]

9. Lots of snow here in CT and now its changed to freezing rain.

I feel for ya, Chicago!

Spring, March 20th, can't come soon enough.

[frazzled]

10. 19.5 inches (but it's not on the East Coast, so it's not a story)

Which it isn't really: it's winter, it snows and even blizzards. But given the days of hand-wringing and bated breath the East Coast got last week, it does feel like no one cares about us.

[inanna]

11. My corner of South Western Ontario is a damn mess!

I just had to brave knee deep snow in order to get across the street to the corner store. Our municipal service has about given up on snow removal at this point. All schools/day cares are closed. There is no transit service - and no indication yet as to when it will resume.

Last night myself and a coworker had to remain in the building for two hours after our shift because we were snowed in completely and the taxi could not reach us until then.

And it's still coming down.

But hey. It's a snow day!

[riversedge]

29. yup--snow day

[AngryAmish]

12. I am trying to figure out the wisdom of shoveling for 2 hours

Just so I can go to the gym and lift more weights.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

13. Ah. . . Nothing

Instead, you know that elderly couple that rarely pops out of their home? Why not shovel a path for them, instead?

[mopinko]

14. yup. imma have to shovel my yard. it's too deep for the chickens.

hopefully my bobcat will fire up for me, and i can dig some folks out.
did have other plans for the day, but.....

[Botany]

15. Can CNN send out Ashleigh Banfield to be driven around snowy streets?

If it snows in someplace besides NYC does the media cover it?

[mahatmakanejeeves]

16. "Fierce as a dog with tongue lapping for action, cunning as a savage pitted against the wilderness,"

Fierce as a dog with tongue lapping for action, cunning as a savage pitted against the wilderness,

Bareheaded,
Shoveling,
Wrecking,
Planning,
Building, breaking, rebuilding,

At least put a hat on, okay?

Chicago

[GitRDun]

17. It was really THAT BAD!

In 35 years of driving, I have never had a problem driving tollways after the major part of a storm has past.

I was in Iowa City over the weekend visiting my daughter. I left Sunday at noonish to make it back to Northern, IL near Lake Michigan by Superbowl pregame.

A normally four hour drive took me seven hours and was really the most terrifying driving experience I've ever had.

An idiot move on my part, should have checked road advisories instead of relying on past experience.

For those that did get on tollway, very few places to get off.

Lots of cars in the ditch, semis too.

Worst storm I've seen in a long time.

[riversedge]

21. Glad you are safe....

but, as you say check road advisers next time. It does not take much to kill yourself --or others in those conditions. Not lecturing---well maybe I am. Had a close friend die in those conditions a few years back. stay safe and best to you.

[AngryAmish]

24. Bad stretch of road in a storm

Northeast Illinois is the coldest, windiest place. Nothing to stop the wind. Lived a few years in DeKalb. But the horrible winters were made up for by the stagent, humid summer.

And the restuarants sucked. Pizza bread, really? Marvin's place was good but he got bored with it and closed it. Portillos helps.

[GitRDun]

28. The wind made everything worse

Much of Northern IL state route 173 was one lane...wind blew snow over west bound lanes.

Same with tollways 80, 88, and 39. Many parts just one lane.

My truck handled it OK, but with some doing 20, others overconfident trying to do 50, and the wind and blowing snow making visibility poor, it was a friggin nightmare.

And I know what you mean about that area of IL.

We used to call IL-5 (what is now Interstate 88) The Lonely Nickel.

[roamer65]

20. Rahm had better get the snow cleared quickly.

Inadequate snow removal in Chicago gets mayors unelected.

SE Michigan got pummeled. At least a foot out there...17 inches to be exact.

[PatrynXX]

22. Yeah Iowa meh

and southern IA still got nailed more still impassible over by Omaha on the Interstate zero mention. how does NYC made news on 2 feet ....Buffalo NY sure 7-8 feet that is news but 2 feet zzz

[riversedge]

25. Chicago also set a snowfall record for Feb. 1 with 16.2 inches ...........

Milwaukee snowstorm beat 100-year snowfall record
http://www.jsonline.com/weather/milwaukee-snowstorm-beat-100-year-snowfall-record-b99437182z1-290526841.html



.........."This was a low-pressure system that moved from the southwest U.S. and tracked across Illinois," explained Sarah Marquardt, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Milwaukee-Sullivan office. "The system was drawing a lot of moisture from the Gulf, which is why it had that much snow."

Meteorologists issued blizzard warnings in Illinois and Indiana for Sunday and into Monday. Chicago also set a snowfall record for Feb. 1 with 16.2 inches —well above the previous record of 13.6 inches set in 2011. The system is now working its way to New England, and winter storm warnings have been issued for areas along its path, Marquardt said.

Anyone who wishes to report a snowfall measurement to the National Weather Service's Milwaukee Sullivan office can do so on this online form. The snowfall map will be updated throughout the day as reports come in.

[librechik]

26. so glad someone finally got the historic blizzard

sorry it had to be you, Chicago--

[PasadenaTrudy]

27. I am eternally grateful..

that my parents moved from Chicago to Los Angeles before I was born. Thanks, mom and dad, may you both rest in peace....

[uppityperson]

30. I have noticed the disparity in snow storm coverage also. Good luck Chicago and

LG.

[Skittles]

31. car parked near my brother's house