The 4.8 inches of snow for the day at O'Hare broke the previous record snowfall for Feb. 26 in Chicago, a record set in 1935. The National Weather Service Office in Chicago recorded 2.2 inches of snow, and Midway Airport picked up 3.6 inches.

With 14.1 inches so far at O'Hare and 8.7 inches of snow so far at Midway this month, the storm also made February a top-20 snowiest February in Chicago.

Tuesday's snow total at Rockford, Ill., was 4.1 inches, so only 0.2 of an inch more of snow needs to fall to make February 2013 a top-five snowiest February for the city.