Blizzard warnings and winter weather advisories were in effect Monday morning across much of the Chicago area, with heavy snow falling and wind gusts near 50 mph at times making for dangerous travel conditions for the morning rush hour commute.
“It kind of looks like a snowglobe out there,” NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Pete Sack said early Monday, with “several hours of pretty intense snowfall” still expected.
Sack added the snow was “a little unprecedented” considering thunderstorms rumbled just hours before, with flood advisories from heavy rain continuing across the Chicago area.
About 5 a.m., Live Doppler 5 Radar showed some of the heaviest snow falling parts to the north and west. In Lincolnshire in Lake County, the roads were “completely covered,” NBC 5 reporter Chris Hush said from Storm Chaser.
“Half Day Road, same situation,” Hush said, where only one driving lane had been plowed, “if it all.”
Where blizzard warnings, winter weather advisories are in effect
More intense snow was falling in counties to the west and in northern Wisconsin, where a blizzard warning was in place and “whiteout” conditions were expected.
According to the National Weather Service, the blizzard warning, for McHenry and DeKalb Counties in Illinois and Kenosha County in Wisconsin, will last until 1 p.m. The blowing snow from winds gusting as high as 45 mph at times “will make travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening,” the NWS warned, with reduced visibility to a quarter-mile or less.
“The hazardous conditions will impact the Monday morning commute,” the NWS said. “Strong winds could bring down tree branches and cause power outages.” The NWS added that in areas where the blizzard warning was in effect, “travel should be restricted to emergencies only.”
In Lake, Kane, DuPage, Cook, LaSalle, Kendall, Grundy and Will Counties in Illinois; and LaPorte County in Indiana, a winter weather advisory was in effect, with “significant snow and blowing snow” through the morning.
“Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will become slick and hazardous,” the NWS warned. “Plan on slippery road conditions. Blowing snow will cause sharply reduced visibilities, particularly in open areas. The hazardous conditions will impact the Monday morning commute. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches.”
Snow was expected to continue through lunchtime, Sack said, tapering off in the afternoon. Still, blowing and drifting snow from high winds at times will continue.
Winter road conditions
Multiple crashes were already reported, NBC 5 traffic reporter Kye Martin said at 5 a.m., including on the Kennedy Expressway at Diversey, I-294 at Sanders. Spinouts and crashes stretching from Naperville to the south suburbs were also reported.
The Illinois Department of Transportation winter road conditions map showed counties to the north and west had roads that were completely covered in snow and ice. Closer to the lake, the roads were mostly or partly covered with snow, the map showed.
The snow also lead to more than 300 flights canceled at O’Hare International Airport, and school closures for some Chicago area schools, including in Woodstock, Wonder Lake and Cary.
How much snow will we get?
As the snow comes to an end, counties under the blizzard warning can expect to see between 4-7 inches of snowfall, Sack said.
Woodstock could see as much as five inches of snow, Sack said, with more than four inches in DeKalb. In Rockford, more than six inches of snow was expected.
In counties under the winter weather advisory, between 1-3 inches of snowfall was expected, with highest amounts in Waukegan, Aurora and DuPage, the NBC 5 Storm Team 5 snow totals map showed.
Temperatures dropping
Temperatures will drop as the snow falls, Sack said, with temperatures temperatures in the 20s and wind chills in the single digits. By Monday night, temperatures will feel “more like the middle of January,” the NWS said, with wind chills below zero.
By Wednesday, temperatures will bump back up, Sack said, with readings into the 40s and 50s through the weekend.
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