WEATHER SNAP SHOTS

Andy Casper of Belvidere displays quite a sense of humor about Friday's snow by building this 10-12 foot high Easter Bunny! The photo was relayed to me by friend and colleague Eric Sorensen, Chief Meteorologist at WREX-TV in Rockford. Thanks to both Andy and Eric for sharing the Easter Bunny photo with us!
--Tom Skilling, Chief Meteorologist, WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune

Photo courtesy of Andy Casper, Belvidere, Illinois

Our thanks to John Gehr who forwards us these photos from the Holland, Mich., area. It, like the area north of Chicago and north into Wisconsin, is bearing the brunt of this area's largest late-season storm in at least 16 years.
--Tom Skilling, Chief Meteorologist, WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune

A new layer of wet snow has blanketed northern Wisconsin in the past day, clinging to trees and other outdoor surfaces as you can see in these photos from our friend Dan Hanson. He snapped these photos Thursday morning outside his home in Winter, Wisconsin. Thanks for sharing them with us, Dan!
Tom Sklling



Photos courtesy of Dan Hanson, Winter, Wisconsin

Ice lingers along Lake Michigan despite the arrival of milder temperatures in recent days. Jim Bayne shares this ice photograph with us from Oak Street Beach. Great shot--thanks Jim!
Tom Skilling

Photo courtesy of Jim Bayne, Chicago

Bret Renaud shares this great photos of our wintry, ice-packed Chicago shoreline looking south from the north side Rogers Park neighborhood. Beautiful shot! Many thanks Bret!

Tom Skilling

Photo courtesy: Bret Renaud

Keith Wrzala of Hampshire for shares this beautiful shot of Monday evening’s sunset with us! Thanks Keith!
Tom Skilling

Photo courtesy: Keith Wrzala

Mike Lynch of Lombard sends us a picture of what he calls his "snow crocuses." He explains:

I noticed them yesterday, and when I heard Steve Sanders ask about daffodils last night, I decided to take a picture for you this morning. Normally my daffodils are not far behind the snow crocuses, and I'm ready for Spring!

Thanks Mike for your photo!
—WGN-TV Weather Center

Mark and Karen Vogan of Scotland visited Chicago just a week ago. Mark, an avid weather enthusiast whose pictures and accounts of Scottish weather have appeared on this blog before, reports this winter has been mild overall in the U.K. -- but he was most interested in arriving in the Midwest to take in the mid-winter chill. He reports:
"Here are more icy lakefront pictures we took and also from the top of the Sears Tower on a brilliantly clear day; note the lake-effect snow clouds over on the Indiana and Michigan side of the lake.




Photos courtesy of Mark Vogan
The ice along the shore at the (Adler) Planetarium was on a day with east winds, and we witnessed the ice movement and overlapping of the slabs at they backed up against the shore. Amazing sights and sounds that I have never witnessed before."
Magnificent photos, Mark! Thanks for sharing them with us, and I'm glad you had such a good time here! All the best to you and your wife Karen!
--Tom Skilling, WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist

Many thanks for these beautiful shots of Lake Michigan shoreline ice to Xerxes Bhote, who along with his daughter, took them on Winnetka Beach this week. Our cold February has contributed to the extraordinary ice buildup this season. Many thanks Xerxes for sharing these photos with us!
Tom Skilling


Photos courtesy of Xerxes K. Bhote, Winnetka, Illinois

We’ve all watched the horrific events of recent weeks at Northern Illinois University with shock and sadness. The shootings there hit terribly close to home when we were informed that Patrick Korellis, an NIU intern in our office just last semester, had been among those wounded. Patrick is home and doing well for which we are grateful. But our hearts stopped here when we first heard the news and we feel profound sadness for the family and friends of those who lost their lives in the senseless shooting at Cole Hall there.
When these photos arrived from Kenny Chmielewski, a meteorology student at NIU, I just had to post these for you to see. They signify that the NIU spirit is alive. Kenny, we thank you for sharing these shots with us! Stay warm and let all know there we are thinking of all of you in these difficult times!
Tom Skilling


Photo courtesy: Kenny Chmielewski