The center of an intense low-pressure system tracked east over Chicago late Thursday afternoon.
Metro-area temperatures fell into the lower 30s and rain changed to wet snow as northwesterly winds gusting to 50 mph pulled cold air into northeast Illinois.
At Chicago's official O'Hare observing site, 0.1 inch of snow was measured at 6:30 p.m. — ending our record 290-consecutive-day streak without measurable snow. (The old record was 280 days set in 1994).
At the same time, the latest date for measurable snow was established — besting by four days the old Dec. 16 record set in 1965.
Snowfall was expected to accumulate from 1 to 4 inches over the area, with greater amounts closer to the Wisconsin state line.
