More snow is expected to fall across the Chicago area through early Wednesday, and falling temperatures and increased winds are expected to bring snow drifts and possibly hazardous road conditions.
A winter weather advisory, which was issued for 3 to 5 inches of snow, has been extended until 4 a.m. in Cook, DuPage, Will and other southern counties. A winter storm warning, generally issued when 6 inches or more of snow has fallen, was also in effect until 4 a.m. in Lake, Kane, McHenry, DeKalb and other western counties, according to the National Weather Service.
“Our winds will increase from the northwest,” NWS meteorologist Mark Ratzer told the Sun-Times, saying wind gusts could reach 45 mph overnight.
Most of the snowfall in the area since earlier Tuesday has been wet and heavy as temperatures hovered near the freezing point, but “the snow should become less wet as temperatures begin to drop, and it will be more vulnerable to wind,” Ratzer said. “.
About 1 to 3 inches of additional snow could accumulate overnight. The agency also warned of flash freeze and black ice conditions.
Nearly 4 inches of snow was measured at Midway International Airport at 6 p.m. More than 3 inches of storm surge accumulated at O'Hare International Airport, where the ground was brought to a complete standstill for about an hour Tuesday afternoon.
As of 7:50 p.m., 199 flights were canceled at O'Hare, and that number could continue to rise if weather conditions do not improve. Forty-two flights were canceled at Midway due to the weather, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The weather delays come after Alaska Airlines and United Airlines grounded their fleets of Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes following an Alaska flight door explosion last week outside Portland, Oregon, and both airlines reported finding loose screws and other hardware elsewhere on panels in subsequent inspections.
Early forecasts called for up to 6 inches of snow in Chicago, but most of it turned to rain Tuesday morning.
Groups of people using umbrellas to protect themselves from rain and snow walk along North Wabash Street, in the Loop, as Chicago and surrounding communities are under a winter weather warning. Tuesday.
Tyler Basiak Larivière/Sun-Times
Most of the snow settled in the northern and western suburbs. About 6 inches were measured in Downers Grove as of 3:30 p.m., with snow continuing to fall overnight, the weather service said.
In western suburban St. Charles, Victor Vogel took his 15-year-old son skiing, as he does with his children almost every year when it snows.
“I love the four seasons,” said Vogel, who has lived for nearly 30 years a few blocks from Langum Park, a popular skating spot along the Fox River.
“This is one of the busiest years for skiing; it's like chaos this year,” said Vogel, 58. “Last year it was about half that. We only went out once last year and two or three times the year before, but you could see the grass and it wasn't conducive to really good skiing.
Snow continued to fall Tuesday afternoon in the western suburbs of Geneva. The authorities warned residents of the consequences of falling tree branches and power lines.
Roads in the far northern and western suburbs were covered in snow and ice Tuesday night, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. In Chicago and most of the southern suburbs, roads were partially covered.
Illinois Tollway has deployed all 196 snow plows to 12 counties in northern Illinois.
“Obviously the roads that are being treated shouldn't be too bad, but as you go west, especially west of Kane County, it shows some areas where road conditions have deteriorated,” said Ratzer, the project manager. meteorologist.
Vogel said he hopes to get his son back skating several times this year. He's looking forward to Friday as a possible return.
Snow is expected to fall in the area again later in the week, most likely Wednesday night into Saturday. Chances diminish on Sunday, but the area could still see flurries.
“This is great,” Vogel said. “Last year I didn't even get my snow blower out.”
Temperatures are likely to drop at the start of next week, with sub-zero temperatures expected by Sunday night.
Travel tips to keep you safe during cold, snowy weather:
- Charge your cell phone before leaving
- Make sure your tires are properly inflated
- Keep your fuel tank at least half full
- Keep a cold-weather safety kit in your car, including gloves, boots, blankets, water, a flashlight with new batteries, and road flares
- If you need help, turn on your emergency lights and stay in the vehicle until help arrives
- Dial *999 for roadside assistance
The road in Geneva's western suburbs was covered in snow and ice Tuesday afternoon.
Pedestrians cross the DuSable Bridge in the Streeterville neighborhood, as Chicago and surrounding communities are under a winter weather warning on Tuesday.
Tyler Basiak Larivière/Sun-Times
Freezing rain fell on most parts of the city on Tuesday, and heavy snow covered the western suburbs.
Tyler Basiak Larivière/Sun-Times
Dozens of people took advantage of Tuesday's snowfall to skate at Langum Park in St. Charles. “This is one of the busiest years for skiing; it's like chaos this year,” Viktor Vogel said.
Nearly 6 inches of snow had fallen by Tuesday afternoon in the western suburbs of St. Charles. O'Hare and Midway airports issued a ground stop, halting Chicago-bound flights at their origin.
