A winter blizzard is heading this way and it could compare to the worst storms in recent history, including those in January 1967 and January 1999.
“We’re going to be measuring total snowfall in feet,” said Ed Fenelon, meteorologist for the National Weather Service, Chicago office. The worse conditions are expected from 9 p.m. Tuesday until 5 a.m., Wednesday, he said.
“Snowfall will be heavy and at times visibility will be less than 100 feet. We’re expecting 2 to 3 inches per hour at the height of the storm. That rate is tremendous,” Fenelon said. The quickly accumulating snow will make it difficult for snowplows to keep up with the storm.
High winds are expected to exacerbate the problem conditions.
“Winds could be gusting at 40 miles per hour or over and drifts can add up to as high as 3 or 4 feet,” Fenelon said.
Fenelon said this storm could compare to the infamous Chicago blizzard that occurred Jan. 26 to 27, 1967, and resulted in an accumulation of 23 inches. That storm was accompanied by blowing and drifting snow. In more recent history, a storm dumped 21.6 inches, reported at O’Hare Airport, between Jan. 1 and 3, 1999.
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