Shoppers at Deer Park Town Center kept hands in their pockets and heads down as they hustled to and from stores Friday afternoon. Temperatures in the 20s and winds gusting to 40 mph. were fitting for the first day of winter.

Bill Zars | Staff Photographer

Don Ernst of Pingree Grove takes a walk with his dog Indigo Friday morning at the Hampshire Forest Preserve on Allen Road. Ernst said he was hoping the overnight storm would have brought more snow, instead of all the rain that preceded it. He would have liked to do without all the wind, too, but at least the sun was shining.

Christopher Hankins | Staff Photographer

"I was hoping for a little more" snow remarked Georgia Brown of St. Charles as she enjoyed a brisk walk with her dogs Billie and Seamus Friday at the Fox River Bluff Forest Preserve. "When the weather is good we come up here" says Brown who is hoping for more nice weather to make life easy for Christmas travelers. The first measurable snowfall for the Fox Valley resulted in little more than half an inch in most places.

Brian Hill | Staff Photographer

Winds were whipping flags and people around Friday morning, including those conducting last minute business at the Wheaton post office.

Scott Sanders | Staff Photographer