Snow Returns to Great Lakes, Including Chicago, Following Tuesday's Thunderstorms

Chris Dolce
Published: February 28,2017
Snow will spread across the Great Lakes on Wednesday less than 24 hours after thunderstorms, some severe, rumble through parts of the region. This weather system could even bring a light accumulation of snow to the Chicago metro area, which hasn't seen an inch of snow on the ground since Christmas and saw no snow in all of February.
(MORE: Record Snowless Streak in Chicago)
The setup for this quick-hitting snow event involves colder air wrapping in behind the same low-pressure system spreading severe weather through the southern and eastern states. Just enough moisture will overlap with that cold air on the low's northwest side to result in accumulating snow in portions of Iowa, southern Minnesota, northern Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan.
(MORE: Severe Weather Marches East)

Strengthening low pressure moves near the Great Lakes on Wednesday. Colder air wraps in behind the low, resulting in snowfall for some areas.

This isn't expected to be a major snowmaker, but it will add to the snowpack in some areas affected by Winter Storm Quid last week. Interestingly, parts of southern Wisconsin that saw severe storms with hail the size of quarters Tuesday morning could have snow falling less than 24 hours later on Wednesday morning.

Forecast Timing

• Wednesday: Snow or rain changing to snow is expected in southern Minnesota, northern Iowa, Wisconsin, northern Illinois, northern Indiana and Michigan.
• Wednesday Night: Snow ends west of Lake Michigan during the evening but continues in northern Indiana, northern Ohio and Michigan. Rain may change to a brief period of snow in western New York, western Pennsylvania and the mountains of West Virginia.
• Thursday: Some light snow could linger across interior parts of the Northeast into Thursday morning.
• City Forecasts: Chicago | Detroit | Grand Rapids | Green Bay | Milwaukee

(MORE: Winter Storm Central)

Wednesday's Forecast

Wednesday Night's Forecast

How Much Snow?

• The greatest potential for more than 3 inches of snow includes areas from central and southern Wisconsin to northern Lower Michigan. Some locations in that swath could see up to a half-foot of snow.
• A dusting to a few inches of accumulation is expected for the rest of the area that sees snowfall in the upper-Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes.

Snowfall Forecast Through Wednesday PM

After the Wednesday system moves through, a separate snowmaker could also affect parts of the Midwest and Great Lakes Thursday. Snowfall accumulations are forecast to be light, but brief travel impacts are possible in a narrow zone.
(MORE: Winter Storms So Far This Season)

Thursday's Forecast

MORE: Winter Storm Quid

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.