Late Snow Storm Snarls O'Hare Airport and Upper Midwest

A late spring snowstorm caused havoc in Chicago on Wednesday, and is expected to hit Michigan this evening. The snowstorm dropped 7 inches in Chicago, Illinois, closing schools and canceling hundreds of flights at O'Hare International Airport. Flights were grounded due to poor visibility. While flights ran 60 to 90 minutes behind schedule at O'Hare International Airport, flights faired better at Midway Airport, with all flights experiencing a 20 to 30 minute delay. While Chicago received 7 inches of snow, Wisconsin is predicted to incur 10 inches of accumulation. In addition, several school districts canceled classes in Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

While chilly weather and the occasional snowfall isn't unusual in April in the upper Midwest, intense late season snowstorms, especially ones with large accumulations of snow do draw attention. "'Snow this late is not unusual,' said weather service meteorologist Andrew Krein in Chicago. 'Typically every few years we'll get some snow in April,' Krein said. 'Snow in April is not unheard of.'" (Yahoo! News) However, the long stretch of unseasonably cold weather coupled with the large amounts of snow made for an unusual Easter weekend for those in the upper Midwest.

Cold weather also caused issues in the south this past weekend. "During the weekend, a cold wave sent temperatures to the freezing point as far south as the Gulf states, devastating crops, and heavy snow wiped out scheduled Angels-Indians baseball for four straight days at Cleveland." (Yahoo! News) According to the Weather Channel website, the southern part of the country saw a return of spring-like weather on Wednesday. Some thunderstorms in the region were predicted to become severe.

The snowstorm that hit Chicago on Wednesday will affect the Great Lakes area on Wednesday evening, dumping a large amount of snow over a large portion of northern Michigan. The storm is predicted to affect upstate New York and Maine later in the week. Cold weather is predicted for the Great Lakes region, and much of the northeast for the rest of the week.

While the snow accumulations appear impressive, in April, the snow doesn't last long, and it takes longer to stick to the ground. A description of the scene in Madison, Wisconsin illustrates the point. "In Madison, snow started falling early Wednesday and was expected to continue through the day, with forecasters predicting about 7 inches by evening. Police spokesman Mike Hanson said Wednesday morning's commute 'hasn't really been a treacherous haul' for drivers because the snow was barely sticking." (USA Today) No word on exactly when the cold snap will end.

Sources: Yahoo! News, USA Today, and The Weather Channel Website