Much colder temperatures bring the possibility of snow beginning late tonight and into Tuesday. Accumulations are expected to be light and mostly confined to grassy areas, but be extra cautious on bridges, overpasses and ramps. #ilwxpic.twitter.com/ristHafAHM
* The Question: Your “best” spring snowfall memories?
29 Comments
- lake county democrat - Monday, Apr 19, 21 @ 12:49 pm:
Not local: long ago, sometime early May, I was driving to Seattle to visit a friend and took some extra time off to drive through Yellowstone. Freak snow storm closed the park the day after I arrived (got one tantalizing peek about a half mine in before hitting a closed gate), forcing a long, boring detour around southern Wyoming and into Idaho.
- Bruce( no not him) - Monday, Apr 19, 21 @ 12:52 pm:
My best April snowfall memory was in 2018. I was in Arizona at the time the Easter snow fell. And melted by the tine we returned. The best snow is no snow.
April Fools Day, 1997. Woke up to 3 feet of snow in the driveway. Southern MA.
- Give Me A Break - Monday, Apr 19, 21 @ 12:57 pm:
I guess it counts as snow as it started out that way. Snow soon turned to sleet then freezing rain, the 1978 Spring Ice Storm in central Illinois won’t ever be forgotten by a lot of us.
We went 11 days without electricity. The storm caused millions in damage in the Springfield area. None of us could see it without power, but Springfield made the national news at least we heard that.
I barely remember this (although I was in preschool at the time), but the early April 1982 winter storm (ca. Apr. 6, 1982) with several inches of snow at least in northern and western Illinios. Caused school closings.
About a foot of snow in western and north-central Illinois on Apr. 10, 1997. While Springfield had nothing. In college in the storm area at that time, it was surreal. Storm hit on Thursday, took until at least the following Sunday or Monday to melt.
Mar. 21, 2006. Six inches of wet snow in Springfield, occuring only 9 days after the twin F2 tornadoes. Further complicating recovery efforts.
Easter 2018 (Apr. 1, 2018). Thin area of heavy snow about 40 miles either side of Route 136. Including about a foot of snow in at least southern Tazewell County and near Lincoln. While little or no snow (other than flurries) north of I-74 in the Peoria area, and south of I-72 in the Springfield area. Big dropoff in snow amounts between Sherman and Chatham that day. Followed by frigid temperatures (maybe below zero lows in the Lincoln area).
Back in the 1970’s I was teaching in a smaller district in McLean County. We used so many built in snow days one year that our Easter Break was shortened by two days so we wouldn’t tack on any more make up days at the end of the year.
Sure enough, there was snow on those early April days. We didn’t close but it felt like Mother Nature was having a great time thumbing her nose at us.
May 1989, graduated from a university in the upper peninsula of Michigan. Packed up the car before the commencement ceremony, excited to hear the commencement speaker - Rosa Parks. Came out of the arena afterwards, ready for the long drive back to Illinois and was met with big, puffy flakes. Interesting ride home to say the least.
==We went 11 days without electricity. The storm caused millions in damage in the Springfield area. None of us could see it without power, but Springfield made the national news at least we heard that.==
I’ve heard some stories that some rural areas and individual households lost electricity for even at least a month after the ‘78 ice storm, is that true?
And the ‘78 ice storm toppled two TV transmitting towers. One of the then-defunct WJJY-TV (Channel 14) in Jacksonville (tower near Bluffs), as well as the one for WAND-17 near Argenta.
In 2012 we had several days in both Jan and March that hit in the 70s and 80s. It got so warm so fast in March, that I had a Copper Underwing caterpillar get to the size in these pics on bugwood ( https://bugguide.net/node/view/13299) right before we had a 2-3 inch snowstorm in April.
I can’t really call it a “memory”, but my Mom loved telling the story of my birthday on April 22, 1967 during a snow storm after surviving the January storm that still holds the Chicago record for the most snow. She would tell people she should have known what she was in for. (Also, agree with OW. Plenty of Cubs/Sox home openers in the snow)
Didn’t happen here, but when we lived in northern NJ in the ’80s. We lived up a hill on a single lane road and the neighbor down hill was paid to snow plow us when he plowed to get himself out. Got an unusual middle April snow storm (pretty much an average level event by Chicago standards) and we waited and waited for Lou to show up to plow. Finally we called and his wife Marge said, “OMG we never dreamed either of you’d try to drive to work today. The roads are terrible. “
Seeing my winter hating mother knee deep in snow holding her birthday flowers that I sent, Mid May in upstate New York. One of the few pictures I have of her not smiling.
Too long a story to tell, but it involved three canceled flights from the backwaters of Virginia to Chicago, complete with a whistle stop in Charlottesville to pick up skiers. Yes, they carried their skis on board. Amazingly, we made it to O’Hare that day. Really late.
April 1975. The buses stopped running from Evanston because of the snow. I had to walk from the L to the house of a friend who went to Northwestern, and sleep on the floor.
== can’t really call it a “memory”, but my Mom loved telling the story of my birthday on April 22, 1967 during a snow storm after surviving the January storm that still holds the Chicago record for the most snow.==
That storm came one day after the devastating tornado outbreak that included the F4 tornadoes in Belvidere and Oak Lawn.
When I was in middle school and it snowed the Thursday before Easter and we were all singing “I’m dreaming of a white Easter” while waiting to get on the bus
coaching my son’s little league team at a practice when it was snowing. the parents all wanted to leave but the players were having too much fun so we kept practicing. it was pure fun.
- iroquois county dem - Monday, Apr 19, 21 @ 4:50 pm:
I’m showing my age but April 17 1961 I remember it because it was my moms birthday we had 6 inches of heavy snow we were at my grandparents house which was 5 miles from town and got stuck 3 times on the way home
April 18, 1979 at Illinois College was “partying” in Turner Hall, when I left for Gardner Hall at midnight there were a couple of inches of wet snow on the ground. And I didn’t care.
- lake county democrat - Monday, Apr 19, 21 @ 12:49 pm:
Not local: long ago, sometime early May, I was driving to Seattle to visit a friend and took some extra time off to drive through Yellowstone. Freak snow storm closed the park the day after I arrived (got one tantalizing peek about a half mine in before hitting a closed gate), forcing a long, boring detour around southern Wyoming and into Idaho.
- Bruce( no not him) - Monday, Apr 19, 21 @ 12:52 pm:
My best April snowfall memory was in 2018. I was in Arizona at the time the Easter snow fell. And melted by the tine we returned. The best snow is no snow.
- MSIX - Monday, Apr 19, 21 @ 12:55 pm:
April Fools Day, 1997. Woke up to 3 feet of snow in the driveway. Southern MA.
- Give Me A Break - Monday, Apr 19, 21 @ 12:57 pm:
I guess it counts as snow as it started out that way. Snow soon turned to sleet then freezing rain, the 1978 Spring Ice Storm in central Illinois won’t ever be forgotten by a lot of us.
We went 11 days without electricity. The storm caused millions in damage in the Springfield area. None of us could see it without power, but Springfield made the national news at least we heard that.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 19, 21 @ 1:01 pm:
My best spring snow memories are opening dayS at Wrigley Field… snow falling during the game.
If memory serves, one of the several I remember was the Opening Day without Harry for the first time, “Amazing Grace” being played too.
It’s like the hope for spring, sitting in the ball park, the snow reminding “not so fast”
- EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham - Monday, Apr 19, 21 @ 1:08 pm:
I barely remember this (although I was in preschool at the time), but the early April 1982 winter storm (ca. Apr. 6, 1982) with several inches of snow at least in northern and western Illinios. Caused school closings.
About a foot of snow in western and north-central Illinois on Apr. 10, 1997. While Springfield had nothing. In college in the storm area at that time, it was surreal. Storm hit on Thursday, took until at least the following Sunday or Monday to melt.
Mar. 21, 2006. Six inches of wet snow in Springfield, occuring only 9 days after the twin F2 tornadoes. Further complicating recovery efforts.
Easter 2018 (Apr. 1, 2018). Thin area of heavy snow about 40 miles either side of Route 136. Including about a foot of snow in at least southern Tazewell County and near Lincoln. While little or no snow (other than flurries) north of I-74 in the Peoria area, and south of I-72 in the Springfield area. Big dropoff in snow amounts between Sherman and Chatham that day. Followed by frigid temperatures (maybe below zero lows in the Lincoln area).
- SSL - Monday, Apr 19, 21 @ 1:17 pm:
April 1982 white knuckle driving through a snowstorm on the Stevenson trying to get to my then home. Best memory was I made it.
- Nearly Normal - Monday, Apr 19, 21 @ 1:19 pm:
Back in the 1970’s I was teaching in a smaller district in McLean County. We used so many built in snow days one year that our Easter Break was shortened by two days so we wouldn’t tack on any more make up days at the end of the year.
Sure enough, there was snow on those early April days. We didn’t close but it felt like Mother Nature was having a great time thumbing her nose at us.
- NIU Grad - Monday, Apr 19, 21 @ 1:21 pm:
Good thing we procrastinated on setting up that garden last week…
- Dysfunction Junction - Monday, Apr 19, 21 @ 1:22 pm:
May 1989, graduated from a university in the upper peninsula of Michigan. Packed up the car before the commencement ceremony, excited to hear the commencement speaker - Rosa Parks. Came out of the arena afterwards, ready for the long drive back to Illinois and was met with big, puffy flakes. Interesting ride home to say the least.
- EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham - Monday, Apr 19, 21 @ 1:37 pm:
==We went 11 days without electricity. The storm caused millions in damage in the Springfield area. None of us could see it without power, but Springfield made the national news at least we heard that.==
I’ve heard some stories that some rural areas and individual households lost electricity for even at least a month after the ‘78 ice storm, is that true?
And the ‘78 ice storm toppled two TV transmitting towers. One of the then-defunct WJJY-TV (Channel 14) in Jacksonville (tower near Bluffs), as well as the one for WAND-17 near Argenta.
- Anon221 - Monday, Apr 19, 21 @ 1:40 pm:
In 2012 we had several days in both Jan and March that hit in the 70s and 80s. It got so warm so fast in March, that I had a Copper Underwing caterpillar get to the size in these pics on bugwood ( https://bugguide.net/node/view/13299) right before we had a 2-3 inch snowstorm in April.
- Trouble Maker - Monday, Apr 19, 21 @ 1:57 pm:
I can’t really call it a “memory”, but my Mom loved telling the story of my birthday on April 22, 1967 during a snow storm after surviving the January storm that still holds the Chicago record for the most snow. She would tell people she should have known what she was in for. (Also, agree with OW. Plenty of Cubs/Sox home openers in the snow)
- Responsa - Monday, Apr 19, 21 @ 1:58 pm:
Didn’t happen here, but when we lived in northern NJ in the ’80s. We lived up a hill on a single lane road and the neighbor down hill was paid to snow plow us when he plowed to get himself out. Got an unusual middle April snow storm (pretty much an average level event by Chicago standards) and we waited and waited for Lou to show up to plow. Finally we called and his wife Marge said, “OMG we never dreamed either of you’d try to drive to work today. The roads are terrible. “
- Dave Dahl - Monday, Apr 19, 21 @ 2:33 pm:
April 10, 1997 - eight inches in Peoria the day we brought home two-day-old Clifford.
And =EssentialStateEmployee= at 1:37: I remember the WAND problem at Argenta. We had to watch Ch. 68 from Danville for a long time!
- Charles Sellers/DCgrad - Monday, Apr 19, 21 @ 2:43 pm:
Seeing my winter hating mother knee deep in snow holding her birthday flowers that I sent, Mid May in upstate New York. One of the few pictures I have of her not smiling.
- Phineas Gurley - Monday, Apr 19, 21 @ 3:27 pm:
HS baseball game snowed on on May 11th
- Stix Hix - Monday, Apr 19, 21 @ 3:49 pm:
Too long a story to tell, but it involved three canceled flights from the backwaters of Virginia to Chicago, complete with a whistle stop in Charlottesville to pick up skiers. Yes, they carried their skis on board. Amazingly, we made it to O’Hare that day. Really late.
- Keyrock - Monday, Apr 19, 21 @ 3:55 pm:
April 1975. The buses stopped running from Evanston because of the snow. I had to walk from the L to the house of a friend who went to Northwestern, and sleep on the floor.
- Anyone Remember - Monday, Apr 19, 21 @ 4:07 pm:
April 2018. Snow on 4 of the 5 Sundays.
- EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham - Monday, Apr 19, 21 @ 4:12 pm:
== can’t really call it a “memory”, but my Mom loved telling the story of my birthday on April 22, 1967 during a snow storm after surviving the January storm that still holds the Chicago record for the most snow.==
That storm came one day after the devastating tornado outbreak that included the F4 tornadoes in Belvidere and Oak Lawn.
- OneMan - Monday, Apr 19, 21 @ 4:14 pm:
When I was in middle school and it snowed the Thursday before Easter and we were all singing “I’m dreaming of a white Easter” while waiting to get on the bus
- Odysseus - Monday, Apr 19, 21 @ 4:17 pm:
May 1989, it snowed on Prom Night.
- Slugger - Monday, Apr 19, 21 @ 4:46 pm:
coaching my son’s little league team at a practice when it was snowing. the parents all wanted to leave but the players were having too much fun so we kept practicing. it was pure fun.
- iroquois county dem - Monday, Apr 19, 21 @ 4:50 pm:
I’m showing my age but April 17 1961 I remember it because it was my moms birthday we had 6 inches of heavy snow we were at my grandparents house which was 5 miles from town and got stuck 3 times on the way home
- Collinsville Kevin - Monday, Apr 19, 21 @ 4:59 pm:
April 18, 1979 at Illinois College was “partying” in Turner Hall, when I left for Gardner Hall at midnight there were a couple of inches of wet snow on the ground. And I didn’t care.
- Huh? - Monday, Apr 19, 21 @ 5:56 pm:
It’s weather. I’ll get over it. In 3 months we’ll be complaining about the heat and humidity.
That being said, moved all Sheba’s potted plants into the garage and covered the container potatoes.
- RNUG - Monday, Apr 19, 21 @ 8:33 pm:
I don’t know if it was best or worst … the ice storm of 78. It was pretty for a short time, but a real mess afterward
- Former Rosary Bead - Monday, Apr 19, 21 @ 9:29 pm:
It snowed the day after Prom - the first weekend in May.