2011 Blizzard

Around 2:00 P.M. on February 1, 2011, the snow was starting to fall in the strong 70 miles wind and the thunder rumbling, and continued falling all night.

Here is the list of the past Chicago’s 10 biggest Snowstorms
1. 23.0 inches Jan 26-27, 1967
2. 21.6 inches Jan 1-3, 1999
3. 19.2 inches Mar 25-26, 1930
4. 18.8 inches Jan 13-14, 1979
5. 16.2 inches Mar 7-8, 1931
6. 15.0 inches Dec 17-20, 1929
7. 14.9 inches Jan 30, 1939
8. 14.9 inches Jan 6-7, 1918
9. 14.3 inches Mar 25-26, 1970
10. 14.0 inches Jan 18-20, 1886

The 2011 “Monster Blizzard” called by the Medias, brought 20.2 inches snow in Chicago. This is the official number measured at the O’Hare Airport, but it was a different story at some backyard of the northern part, and the field of near the lakefront. There were far more than 20.2 inches. The 110 inches snow falling was reported in the town of Kenosha located at the border of Illinois and Wisconsin.

Here are some interesting photos: left-side photos were taken at 1 P.M. on February 1, and right side ones were 24 hours later.

Hiroko’s back porch garden: There are lots of plant pots, 24 hours later they were covered by drifted snow.

From the porch, two high-rise buildings are able to see, but during the blizzard no buildings could be seen.

Alley - there were snow on the ground before blizzard, but drifted snow piled up very deep.

The snow covered one third of the garage door in where Hiroko’s husband’s car is. When can he take his car out of the garage and drive around?

Clark street – there were no snow on February 1, but 24 hours later, February 2, there were so much snow, especially pedestrian road, so people had to walk on the roadway.

It is such different. One day there were no snow on the pavement and lots of snow next day.

Same for Jewel Food Market parking lots

From these picture you can see how deep snow piled up.

Hiroko’s apartment front door – Hiroko couldn’t get out to take photos because the snow had piled up one third of the door. She had to take all the snow out from the door and the door way.

The little snow were shoveled out to make her go out.

Hiroko noticed there were no snows on the south-side of cars because of the strong wind.


Yet, the most cars were buried in the snow on the Olive Street.

Inside Hiroko’s Apartment: the drifted snow blew through the pantry window opened slightly, and the front porch window.

Both bedroom and kitchen windows were filled with drifted snow.
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It is surely the 2011 “monster” blizzard. There are so many stories about during blizzards.

1979 blizzard, Hiroko’s father-in-law went to work by his car. The snow had fallen all day long, so the Lakeshore Drive was piled of the snow. He drove on the Lakeshore Drive until Wilson Street. He couldn’t drive furthermore, so he abandoned his car at Wilson and walked home. He couldn’t reach his home until 10 P.M.

During the 2011 “monster” blizzard the big problem also occurred at the Lakeshore Drive. The Transportation Chief might be better to close the Drive earlier. He said the car was moving slowly, so thought about the people who wanted to go home. However, three big accidents had occurred between Belmont and Fullerton. After that over 1,000 cars were abandoned.

The story of one couple among them: They had to visit someone at a hospital, but husband figured out he could come home before the blizzard, but that was wrong. They were stuck at the Lakeshore Drive. His wife uses a wheelchair, so they couldn’t go anyplace. They just sat down in the car for around 9 hours, then the gasoline was almost gone, and they were getting cold. At that moment someone tapped of their car window. There! Fireman! They were rescued and taken to the nearby hospital. The husband said he saw the angels in the fire engine and the hospital. He gave million big thanks to them.

In the 1999 blizzard, Chicago Mayor didn’t quickly respond to the storm, so the City of Chicago was paralyzed. He wasn’t elected in the next Chicago Mayoral election.

This is very good lesson for everyone. The human being cannot see one step ahead. How can the human being to see or to make a decision one step ahead? It is foolish to worry about it, well, ignore it, or ……what?