It doesn’t feel like spring in Chicago. Over 700 flights were cancelled amid a late winter storm warning on April 27.
Winter is just not ready to say good-bye to #Chicago this year. ❄️ Today, airlines at ORD have cancelled nearly 600 flights. ✈️ Check flight status w/ carrier.
— O’Hare Intl. Airport (@fly2ohare) April 27, 2019
The schedule-breaking weather was also record-breaking, with more than two inches of snowfall in late spring, according to AccuWeather.
Busy day at @fly2ohare with the spring snowstorm. Over 700 flights have been cancelled today between O’Hare and Midway. Hear from frustrated passengers at 5p on @cbschicago. #ILwx pic.twitter.com/yF0lJOujJJ
— Jeff Langan (@jefflangan) April 27, 2019
Daily Herald reported that the O’Hare International Airport cancelled close to 600 flights as of 8 p.m. on Saturday. And by that time, Midway International cancelled over 100 flights.
Lake, Cook, McHenry, DuPage, and Kane County were layered in white blankets of varying depths. McHenry and Lake County were estimated to get 4 to 6 inches of snow, according to the newspaper.
Downtown Chicago right now. Moderate and heavy snowfall. @weatherchannel @WeatherNation @breakingweather @NWSChicago #ILwx #Chicagoweather pic.twitter.com/HDZF2hEBpI
— Delé Balogun ⛈️ (@delesbalogun) April 27, 2019
“The last time 2 inches of snow fell this late was back in 1910, so it is very uncommon for this late in the year,” said Accuweather’s senior meteorologist, Alan Reppert, in an article by Accuweather. “With it being April, we can still see some snowfall in the city, but most of the snow for April falls early in the month.”
Only 0.2 of an inch fell over Chicago in spring of 1950.
Strange Weather in Chicago
This month Chicago had a thick layer of 3-plus inch snowfall, only to have it melt by 70-plus degree temperatures 48 hours later, reported WGN on April 16.
What a difference 30 hours makes! Snow is long gone and spring is here to stay! #ilwx #spring @WGNNews @MorganKolkmeyer @DIvory_WGN pic.twitter.com/1OkPDQ9DKd
— Bill Snyder (@billyweather) April 16, 2019
It is an anomaly, but similar events have happened before.
5.6 inches of snow fell on October 19 and 20. By October 24, the temperature rose to 70 degrees, read the report.
Chicago has seen the most mid-April snow this week in more than 50 years.
“Chicago’s O’Hare Airport was whitened by 5.3 inches of snow on Sunday. That made April 14 one of the top-two snowiest days this late in the season. The snowiest day in the city’s history from April 14 to early May is 5.4 inches of snow on April 16, 1961,” reported AccuWeather.
As the clouds cleared over the Great Lakes this morning, #GOESEast saw some of the snow in Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan slowly start to melt away. Learn more about how to tell snow and clouds apart in satellite imagery: https://t.co/LJSzGqKY3L pic.twitter.com/xHGX8I01c0
— NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) April 15, 2019
‘Seems Like a White Christmas to Me’
North of Chicago, Wisconsin residents from Milwaukee County tried their best to make their way through the slushy streets. Some people had no choice but to pull over and wait it out.
“I think people are in the mode where it’s spring and I don’t have to worry about that anymore,” Jeff Otten told FOX 6.
5-10 inches of heavy, wet snow is expected across southern Wisconsin. Snowfall rates up to 2 inches per hour are possible during the afternoon and early evening. Expect hazardous travel conditions. Keep checking in for the latest information! #swiwx #wiwx pic.twitter.com/vOYseNOLvp
— NWS Milwaukee (@NWSMKX) April 26, 2019
Ronald Depenbrock, a professional truck driver, said he has a device that tells him when he has lost traction; when it becomes unsafe, he calls it a day.
He recommends that others who aren’t prepared for this kind of weather to do the same.
“Just shut it down and let it ride out. It’s not going to be here long. It’s gone by tomorrow,” Depenbrock told Fox.
THIS is how people in Wisconsin deal with #snow at the end of April ???? Thanks to Theresa Schultz for sharing from Belleville. pic.twitter.com/BJOjw8NCRa
— Max Tsaparis (@MaxTsaparis) April 27, 2019
