Lake-effect snow blankets Wilmette. Village reports 10 inches of accumlation

Wilmette appears to the local “winner” in Friday’s snowfall count.

According to a weather alert from the Village of Wlimette up to a 10 inches of thick, lake-effect snow was dumped on the community in a seven-hour span the morning of Friday, Jan. 28.

The village’s Public Works Department began measuring the fresh snowfall at 3 a.m., Village Manager Mike Braiman said, and as of press time (3 p.m.), the 10 inches was the highest reported total in Chicagoland.

“Public Works crews have been working to clear roadways and will continue their efforts throughout the next several days to complete all snow routes,” the alert says. “Plowing main (arterial) streets are the priority followed by side streets and cul-de-sacs so we ask for your patience. Please be cautious and give plow drivers plenty of room.”

Braiman said that refuse and recycling collection was disrupted in some Wilmette locations, and contractor Waste Management will reportedly service the areas it missed on Monday, Jan. 31.

According to the National Weather Service a band of “intense” lake-effect snow struck Chicagland beginning in the predawn hours Friday and tapering off by the early afternoon. Chicago proper and its near north suburbs, such as Evanston and Wilmette, were the most affected.

The NWS reported at 2 p.m. Friday that the lake-effect snow will likely impact the evening commute hours, but mostly for roadways south and southeast of the city — such as the Dan Ryan, Bishop Ford, and Interstates 90 and 94 in northwest Indiana.

The snow piles will likely remain until early next week when forecasters are projecting a warmup to 40 degrees on Monday, Jan. 31.

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