Chicago’s first major snowstorm of the season is expected to upend the evening rush-hour commute as several inches fall throughout the metro area.
Snow is expected to fall about 1 inch an hour from noon to 5 p.m. right on top of the evening commute, according the National Weather Service.
Three to 6 inches of snow was in the works for the metro area and the northern suburbs in Lake County could see between 4 and 8 inches, saidMark Ratzer, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
Flurries, producing a “dusting of snow” began early Wednesday with heavier snow accumulating in the western suburbs around 9 or 10 a.m. before reaching the entire Chicago area by noon, the weather service said.
The snow will stop Wednesday night, potentially turning into freezing rain as temperatures plummet into the single digits into early Thursday.
The weather service upgraded its alert from a winter storm watch to a winter weather advisory for some areas of Illinois and northwest Indiana beginning at 9 a.m. Wednesday and lasting through 3 a.m. Thursday.
At O’Hare Airport as of 6:55 a.m., 27 flights were canceled and 34 more were delayed, according to FlightAware. Twelve flights were canceled and 17 more were delayed at Midway Airport.
On the roads, the Department of Streets and Sanitation deployed salt spreaders Wednesday morning focused on combating snow and ice along Chicago’s busy roads, DuSable Lake Shore Drive, and bridges and overpasses.
The Illinois Tollway has sent out its full fleet of 196 plows to clear roads and spread salt during the storm.
“Our plows will operate continuously during this storm to keep our roads clear of snow and ice so our customers can safely reach their destinations,” Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse said in a statement.
“Safety is always our top priority and we’re urging our customers to help us protect them by slowing down, staying alert for changes in pavement conditions and visibility, and by increasing their distance from plows and other vehicles.”
Drivers who become trapped due to the storm should activate their hazard lights and dial *999 from a cellphone for assistance, the Tollway said.
“Don’t travel if you don’t have to,” Ratzer said. “If you do have to travel during that time, [you] just have to make sure to do what we always do in snow and slippery conditions — take it slow, leave extra distance between you and the vehicles in front of you.”
“Just be slow and exercise caution,” Ratzer added.
Suburban school districts announced Tuesday afternoon that they would close, have early dismissal or switch to online learning ahead of the snowstorm, according to the Emergency Closing Center. Chicago Public Schools have not announced any closures.
The city will open warming centers from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Other facilities, such as libraries, also serve as warming centers and sometimes have different or longer hours. The following centers will be open beginning at 9 a.m. Wednesday:
- Garfield Community Service Center
10 S. Kedzie Ave.
(312) 746-5400 - Englewood Community Service Center
1140 W. 79th St
(312) 747-0200 - Martin Luther King Community Service Center
4314 S. Cottage Grove
(312) 747-2300 - North Area Community Service Center
845 W. Wilson Ave.
(312) 744-2580 - South Chicago Community Service Center
8650 S. Commercial Ave.
(312) 747-0500 - Trina Davila Community Service Center
4312 W. North Ave.
(312) 744-2014
This is the city’s first major snowstorm of the season, the weather service said. The season’s first significant snowfall is typically recorded in December.
Overall this winter, O’Hare Airport has recorded 10.1 inches of snow — well below the average of 25.5 inches of snow for this time of year, according to Ratzer.
More snow is forecast for Friday into Saturday, but it wasn’t immediately clear how much.
Contributing: Rafaela Jinich and Cindy Hernandez