Officials warned drivers to urge caution as a “prolonged” lake effect snow band was leading to “rapid changes” in weather conditions ahead of the afternoon and evening commutes.
Many counties were under winter storm warnings and advisories Friday and Saturday as forecasters warned of an “intense band” of lake effect snow, with multiple rounds of snowfall expected to continue into the weekend.
The snow bursts could lead to slick, slippery roads and hazardous conditions, with the NWS warning the conditions could hit the afternoon and evening commutes hard.
“During lake effect snow, the weather can vary from near white out conditions in very heavy snow to dry weather just a few miles away,” the NWS warned. “Be prepared for rapid changes in weather, visibility, and roadconditions. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.”
While a short break in the heavy snow was possible for a period in the afternoon, another round of “intense” lake effect snow was expected to bring snowfall rates up to 2 inches per hour Friday evening and into Saturday morning, the NWS said.
Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications urged motorists to “take extra precautions to winterize vehicles and have necessary supplies on-the-go.”
The Illinois Department of Transportation also issued an alert to drivers, asking them to “please take it slow and use extra caution during your commutes.”
The Indiana Department of Transportation told drivers to “be prepared for rapidly changing travel conditions – visibility will be greatly reduced and travel conditions will quickly deteriorate under the lake effect band.”
Some airlines issued alerts to travelers warning of the potential for travel impacts due to the winter weather conditions.
United Airlines alerted travelers of the possibility of “operational delays, including flight delays or cancellations.”
A ground stop was issued for Chicago’s O’Hare Airport Friday afternoon. Around 1:08 p.m., the departures to O’Hare Airport were grounded “due to snow or ice,” according to an update from the FAA.
Departures from O’Hare were delayed an average of 30 minutes as of 1:50 p.m. Delays were increasing, per the FAA.
The ground stop was originally expected to end around 2:30 p.m., however, around 2:10 p.m. it was extended until 3:30 p.m.
A winter storm warning will be in effect for parts of Cook County and northwest Indiana through at least Friday evening, with the National Weather Service warning “travel could be very difficult to nearly impossible at times” and “bands of snow may stall for hours at a time.”
Other parts of the region were under a winter weather advisory, with the potential for accumulating snow in a matter of hours.
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In Lake and Porter Counties in Indiana, a winter storm warning will go into effect at 6 p.m. Friday and continue through 6 p.m. CT Saturday. There, as much as six inches or even a foot of snow could fall, with travel conditions “very difficult to nearly impossible at times.”
In parts of Cook County where the winter storm warning was in effect, a “burst” of accumulating snow was expected through the early afternoon, at rates of 1-2 inches per hour at times, the with NWS warning of hazardous travel conditions as the snow band wobbles.
“Locally higher amounts possible with lake-enhanced snow over Lake County,” the NWS added.
Because lake effect snow is often localized, conditions will vary across short distances. The biggest impacts will be felt in areas immediately along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
In Central and Southern Cook County, the winter storm warning remains in effect until midnight. That will transition to a winter weather advisory Saturday morning, the NWS said. That advisory will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
In DuPage, Lake and Northern Cook County, a winter weather advisory was in effect until 8 p.m. Friday. Northern Cook County will also see another advisory from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
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