CHICAGO (WLS) — Sunday morning in Chicago is marked by persistent snowfall, leading to hazardous driving conditions as roads become slippery.
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The National Weather Service has issued several advisories covering Saturday evening through Sunday morning:
- A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for Boone, DeKalb, LaSalle, Lee, Ogle and Winnebago counties from 9 p.m. Saturday to 8 a.m. Sunday.
- A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Grundy, Lake (Ill.), Lake (Ind.), Porter, McHenry and Will counties from midnight to 9 a.m. Sunday.
- A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for Wisconsin’s Racine, Kenosha, and Walworth counties from 10 p.m. Saturday night to 8 a.m. Sunday.
The snowfall commenced overnight, beginning between 9 p.m. Saturday and midnight. It is anticipated to taper off from west to east between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. on Sunday, according to Jaisol Martinez, an AccuWeather Meteorologist with ABC7 Chicago.
Most regions are expected to receive between 2 to 3 inches of snow, although areas north of Interstate 80 might see isolated accumulations of up to 4 inches.
Snow started to fall in the area between 9 p.m. Saturday and midnight and is expected to stop, from west to east, between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. Sunday, ABC7 Chicago AccuWeather Meteorologist Jaisol Martinez said.
Between 2 and 3 inches of snow is forecast for most areas, with some isolated 4-inch totals north of Interstate 80 possible.
Rain might mix in for Kankakee, southern Will, Grundy and southern LaSalle counties, which will impact totals for those locations.
By 5 a.m., areas south of I-80 were mostly seeing lingering flurries from the overnight system, Martinez said.
Lake-effect snow will linger in Illinois and Indiana through midday.
Temperatures are expected to drop Sunday afternoon, and lake-effect snow could set up in the evening hours, dropped another inch of snow in parts of Illinois, Martinez said.
Snow creates hazardous driving conditions
ABC7 meteorologists issued an AccuWeather Alert for Sunday morning, as roads have become slick and snow-covered.
Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications encouraged drivers to slow down and use caution.
“DSS will activate a Phase II snow program overnight. More than 220 salt spreaders will be out citywide,” the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation said in a statement. “Crews will monitor arterial streets, DLSD, bridges, and overpasses to ensure roads are safe and passable for emergency vehicles, public transportation and other travelers.”
While driving through the area in ABC7’s Storm Tracker early Sunday morning, our crew witnessed multiple traffic incidents.
Illinois State Policed were seen trying to help a driver whose car had apparently spun out from the roadway and into a bank on the city’s Far South Side.
Another vehicle was seen speeding before side-swiping a car in front of Strom Tracker.
Plows are out on Sunday morning, so be sure give them plenty of space as they work to clear area roads.
Winter weather prompts ground delay at O’Hare
Flight cancellations have started at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
There is a ground delay at O’Hare from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday due to snow or ice, with delays averaging 71 minutes, according to the Federal Aviation Administration’s website.
The city’s FlyChicago website says 107 flights have been canceled at O’Hare as of 5:41 a.m. Sunday.
More snow is in the forecast for this week before temperatures take a drastic dip on Saturday.
