Winston Wells
EF1
Here are two clips of thundersnow that I caught on video between 6:15 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. this evening in Jacksonville, IL:
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After witnessing the continued decrease of involvement in the SpotterNetwork staff in serving SN members with troubleshooting issues recently, I have unilaterally decided to terminate the relationship between SpotterNetwork's support and Stormtrack. I have witnessed multiple users unable to receive support weeks after initiating help threads on the forum. I find this lack of response from SpotterNetwork officials disappointing and a failure to hold up their end of the agreement that was made years ago, before I took over management of this site. In my opinion, having Stormtrack users sit and wait for so long to receive help on SpotterNetwork issues on the Stormtrack forums reflects poorly not only on SpotterNetwork, but on Stormtrack and (by association) me as well. Since the issue has not been satisfactorily addressed, I no longer wish for the Stormtrack forum to be associated with SpotterNetwork.
I apologize to those who continue to have issues with the service and continue to see their issues left unaddressed. Please understand that the connection between ST and SN was put in place long before I had any say over it. But now that I am the "captain of this ship," it is within my right (nay, duty) to make adjustments as I see necessary. Ending this relationship is such an adjustment.
For those who continue to need help, I recommend navigating a web browswer to SpotterNetwork's About page, and seeking the individuals listed on that page for all further inquiries about SpotterNetwork.
From this moment forward, the SpotterNetwork sub-forum has been hidden/deleted and there will be no assurance that any SpotterNetwork issues brought up in any of Stormtrack's other sub-forums will be addressed. Do not rely on Stormtrack for help with SpotterNetwork issues.
Sincerely, Jeff D.
Brian Rogers
Been coming down heavy here in Peoria for about 5 hours now, we had 2in last night, and about 8in so far today, near whiteout conditions at times. Peoria does ok with snow, but there is no way they can nor should be able to deal with this much.
We are seeing some very beautiful thunder snow here, big flashes of lightning. Hopefully it will pick up enough for me to get some video.
We are seeing some very beautiful thunder snow here, big flashes of lightning. Hopefully it will pick up enough for me to get some video.
Michael Rogers
All out blizzard conditions here in Mundelein, IL. Reports of power outages in neighboring towns, and the power has been flickering here for the last hour or so. Just waiting for it to flicker for the last time. Visibilities dropping to less than 100 yards with the stronger gusts (can't see the house across the street at times). Still no thundersnow here as of yet.
Jeff Hawkins
EF3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05ZipyzVwoo
Nothing really impressive...just some video I shot this evening driving around the neighborhood...a couple thundersnows lighting up the sky during the shots.
Nothing really impressive...just some video I shot this evening driving around the neighborhood...a couple thundersnows lighting up the sky during the shots.
Mike Smith
Chicago FD doing rescues on snowmobiles. 9" in south Chicago, gusts to 54 mph. One home set on fire by lightning. Trees down due to wind.
Skip Talbot
EF5
Definitely seeing blizzard conditions here just west of Chicago with gusting winds and periods of zero visibility, as well as a few flashes of lightning. Would be sweet if we got some more. Here's some video I shot from downtown earlier today just as the blizzard was rolling into the city:
Watch video >
Watch video >
Andrew Pritchard
EF5
Peaking now in northern Illinois with white out conditions, 50-60 mph gusts and cloud to ground lightning. Throwing in a link to my live stream for anyone watching from home: http://weather.wdtinc.com/popout/index.php?M=10164&C=20226&O=10015
Can barely make out the house 50 yards in front of the camera. High reflectivity approaching likely with embedded lightning.
Can barely make out the house 50 yards in front of the camera. High reflectivity approaching likely with embedded lightning.
Michael Rogers
Per ABC 7 News in Chicago, there are reports of embedded pea sized hail with the thundersnow in Willow Brook, IL and Evanston, IL. Now that's amazing!
Still no thundersnow here in Mundelein, but the snow has been at least 2in / hr for the last several hours. I've been trying to keep up with the driveway. I used the snowblower once, then turned around and did it again immediately. Probably could have done it a third time but I'll wait a couple hours then see what I can do with it. The street is completely unplowed and has 1ft snowdrifts on it. There isn't a car leaving my subdivision until the plows can get here.
Still no thundersnow here in Mundelein, but the snow has been at least 2in / hr for the last several hours. I've been trying to keep up with the driveway. I used the snowblower once, then turned around and did it again immediately. Probably could have done it a third time but I'll wait a couple hours then see what I can do with it. The street is completely unplowed and has 1ft snowdrifts on it. There isn't a car leaving my subdivision until the plows can get here.
Skip Talbot
EF5
Love the current conditions out of Midway right now:
Thunderstorm Heavy Snow Small Hail/Snow Pellets Blowing Snow Freezing Fog and Windy
21 °F Wind Speed NE 30 G 56 MPH
Watch the sky closely for awhile and you'll probably see a flash or two. Lightning is being reported across the entire region. We saw several here in Westchester but no booming thunder yet. The wind and the snow really muffle the thunder unless its a close CG strike.
Jesse Risley
Staff member
I have never seen a blizzard like this before. The snow came down hard and fast all afternoon, with >2"/hr snowfall rates the last few hours of the main event. We're going to likely end up with 15" - 17" in these parts, but the main show has really been the intense winds.
Danny Neal
EF5
Still have power! If that isn't noteworthy enough, the fact that I am still getting heavy 1-2 in/hr snows (since 6 PM) is! This has been amazing to document. I like 8 miles from Lake Michigan so I am sure I will get nuked with lake enhanced snow too before all is said and done. Synoptic snows, seeder feeder, and lake effect all wrapped into one. I also ventured out into the blizzard again to document some more... found below.
Jim Saueressig
EF5
I have no idea where we are at for snowfall with the wind we had but I am guestimating 12"+. I will grab some pics tomorrow of that but more importantly I grabbed these tonight!
Scott Weberpal
EF5
I figured there would be a ton of snow videos, so I wanted to do something a little different. Gale force northeasterlies created some fantastic waves on Lake Michigan just south of Milwaukee today. I was on an ice heave about 50' from shore and decided it was time to retreat when the waves began to rip apart the ice and take it back out to sea with them.
Watch video >
Be sure to watch in 1080p as the standard definition is horrible.
Watch video >
Be sure to watch in 1080p as the standard definition is horrible.
Michael Rogers
Been listening to the Lake County, IL Sheriffs department on my police scanner. Cars are stranded in the roadways everywhere. Cops are stranded, Ambulances are stranded, etc. The plows are staging at the fire departments and are pretty much only being used to clear paths for emergency equipment at this time. Many folks stranded in cars calling for help, and the cops are having a lot of trouble getting to them as they are getting stuck themselves. Police and fire in Lake County is simply crippled.
Andrew Pritchard
EF5
Another snowy update from DeKalb in northern Illinois...
This is the main highway through DeKalb. Plows have stopped for the night, and yet people continue to drive.
Video from earlier tonight.
This is the main highway through DeKalb. Plows have stopped for the night, and yet people continue to drive.
Video from earlier tonight.
