Blizzard coming to Chicago

[Will]

Too early for the TAF to show it, but we're under a Winter Storm Watch here in Chicago, with blizzard conditions forecast for Thursday into Saturday. Anyone interested in joining the fun should consider a fly-in to KORD, plan to land at something like 0200 UTC on 12/24.

[Owl]

Always an interesting experience operating in and out of KORD. In the air it's fine, but on the ground the fun really begins...

Everything seems to happen at once, the constantly changing runway assignments, radio frequencies, trying to redo OPT and change the FMC while navigating the labyrinthine maze of taxiways from one end to the other.

The layout always results in multiple active runways to expedite across, with only tight gaps in the conga line of arrivals to get to the other side.

Then we have the uncontrolled free-for-all that is the NE/SW cargo ramp CTAF system you're expected to monitor on VHF R and broadcast/coordinate with, then throw de-icing and the pressure of hold-over times on top of all that.

Give me Rockford any-day over that mess!

[Bluestar]

Back in the PATCO days Chicago Center, Approach and O'hare Tower were some of the best controllers in the country along with New York and Kennedy Tower.  They didn't tell you but once and no readbacks.  If they saw you weren't doing what they said the next turn was vectors for last.  Humorous now, not so much back then.   

[Will]

And so it begins...

KORD 211720Z 2118/2224 07009KT P6SM SCT008 OVC025
  FM220200 15010KT P6SM SCT020 BKN100
  FM221200 18006KT P6SM SCT020 BKN030
  FM221700 23011KT 1 1/2SM -SN BR OVC015
  TEMPO 2217/2219 1/2SM SN FG OVC008
  FM222100 30018G29KT 1SM -SN BLSN OVC010
  TEMPO 2221/2224 1/2SM SN BLSN OVC008

[DougSnow]

And so it begins...

KORD 211720Z 2118/2224 07009KT P6SM SCT008 OVC025
  FM220200 15010KT P6SM SCT020 BKN100
  FM221200 18006KT P6SM SCT020 BKN030
  FM221700 23011KT 1 1/2SM -SN BR OVC015
  TEMPO 2217/2219 1/2SM SN FG OVC008
  FM222100 30018G29KT 1SM -SN BLSN OVC010
  TEMPO 2221/2224 1/2SM SN BLSN OVC008

No alternate min fuel, what's the problem? I don't miss living in that crap, or working in the Station Control Center underneath the C Concourse when all hell would break loose

[Will]

Quite literally, the calm before the storm:

KORD 221351Z 00000KT 8SM OVC080 00/M04 A2986 RMK AO2 SLP120 T00001039

[Will]

The storm arrives:

KORD 221851Z 31012G20KT 1 3/4SM -SN BR OVC015 M06/M08 A2977 RMK AO2 SLP090 P0000 T10561083

[Will]

Hitting hard now:

KORD 222051Z 30015G26KT 1/2SM R10L/3500V4000FT SN FZFG VV009 M11/M13 A2979 RMK AO2 PK WND 31027/2028 SLP096 DRSN P0002 60004 T11061133 55003

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers]

I keep telling people that Miami ain't in the US.

KMIA 222153Z 25005KT 10SM FEW037 BKN250 28/20 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP147 T02780200 $

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers]

KORD 230851Z 27019G34KT 5SM BLSN BKN018 OVC025 M22/M27 A2983

Success with THAT ...    :-(

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers]

Some cold air got down here, too. But by no means bad weather. On the contrary, you can finally breath outside.

METAR KTMB 241153Z AUTO 34014KT 10SM CLR 09/03 A3019

[Will]

The day after the storm... clear skies, but still cold!

KORD 241651Z 28017G30KT 10SM FEW017 M14/M19 A2991 RMK AO2 PK WND 28030/1554 SLP146 T11391194

[Bluestar]

I didn't see any of you folks volunteering to come out to west Texas to help me break ice on the stock tanks during this cold spell.  🤣

[emerydc8]

Then we have the uncontrolled free-for-all that is the NE/SW cargo ramp CTAF system you're expected to monitor on VHF R and broadcast/coordinate with, then throw de-icing and the pressure of hold-over times on top of all that.

Give me Rockford any-day over that mess!

That's the frequency you usually remember going northbound on the way in, but the last thing you think about monitoring prior to pushback on the way out.