Dear Tom,
I want to put my snowblower away for the season. What are the chances of a heavy snow in March or April?
–Mike Hunnicutt, Woodridge
Dear Mike,
You can put your snowblower away, but don’t be surprised if you have to do some shoveling. In Chicago, late-season snowfalls tend to be heavy and wet, “heart-attack” snows. Even though the average date of the city’s last 1-inch-plus snowfall is March 20, some of the biggest snows have occurred after that date, including 19.2 inches March 25-26, 1930, and 10-11 inches April 2-3, 1975. In 1970, Chicago was rocked by two late-season snows–14.3 inches fell March 25-26 and 10.7 inches on April 1-2. Chicago’s latest major snow was 6.8 inches April 15-17, 1961; so it is a good idea not to put your snowblower away until after the last day to file income taxes, April 15.
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Write to: ASK TOM WHY, 2501 Bradley Pl., Chicago, IL 60618 or: asktomwhy@wgntv.com
Weather Report is prepared by the WGN-TV Weather Center, where Tom Skilling is chief meteorologist. His forecasts can be seen Monday through Friday on WGN News at 11:30 a.m., 5:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.
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