Typical winter storm tracks for northern Illinois

 Our first snowfall of the Fall season arrived this past weekend adding up to just over an inch for Rockford. In general, snowfall totals ranged from 1-2 inches throughout the viewing area. Further east, lake-effect snow brought quite a bit more along the shores of Lake Michigan from southeast Wisconsin down through NW Indiana. And while we don't have any snowfall in the forecast in the short-term, this recent round may have you wondering which sort of winter storm track usually gives us the big snow events in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.

There are quite a few storm tracks that are fairly typical during the winter season, but there are certain ones that can up the snow in a hurry locally.

Let's first start with the Alberta Clipper:

This low-pressure system - as you guessed it - originates in Alberta, Canada and swings down into the lower 48, moving into the Great Lakes. Typically, these low-pressure systems are lacking moisture due to developing in a colder air mass. But the 'fluffy' nature of the snow can sometimes add up in a hurry leading to several inches of light snow that can easily blow around. Usually, we tend to see a couple inches from these types of systems, but they've been known to bring some higher totals due to the 'fluff' in narrow, heavy snow bands.

Hybrid System:

This low-pressure system develops in the central Plains and moves east towards the Great Lakes and Northeast. Usually this will bring light to moderate snow for the area, but a few heavier snow bands can also be found embedded within.

Colorado Low:

This type of low-pressure system can sometimes be a 'redevelopment' of a previous storm system that moved onshore along the West Coast. As the 'energy' from that system travels over the Rockies another low-pressure system develops. The typical storm track of a Colorado Low takes it from western Kansas into the Great Lakes, and then into southern Canada. These low-pressure systems can often times lead to moderate to heavy snowfall for the local area. The snow that fell from January 31st-February 2nd, 2015, where Rockford recorded 11.9 inches, was from a Colorado Low, as was the snowfall that came down January 30-31st, 2021. This one was more impactful for northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana.

Panhandle Hook:

This type of low-pressure system originates near the panhandle of Texas and Oklahoma moving east before 'hooking' northeast towards the Midwest and Great Lakes. Heavy snow can be found north of the storm's track as it pulls moisture from the Gulf with it, which is another favorable track for big snow in northern Illinois. The infamous "Groundhog Day" Blizzard in 2011 which blanketed northern Illinois with a foot to a foot and a half of snow was the result of a Panhandle Hook low.

Gulf Low:

This low-pressure system develops near the Gulf and moves north before shifting northeast. It can bring moderate to heavy snow with it but usually has less of an impact on us in northern Illinois and more for the mid and lower Mississippi River and Ohio Valleys.