Hawthorn Woods garbage service delayed, village hall closed due to snow

As residents brace for heavy snowfall to blanket the region, Hawthorn Woods officials announced garbage collection will be postponed until Saturday and the Hawthorn Woods village hall will be closed Friday.

In nearby Vernon Hills, public works employees were sent home at noon to prepare for 12 hours of snow plowing beginning at 8 p.m. They will be reinforced by a second team of eight workers who will continue clearing snow starting at 3 a.m. and continuing for 12 to 16 hours, officials said.

"It's going to be not only a lot of snow, but it will be a long duration," said David Brown, the public works director and village engineer for Vernon Hills. "For 20 hours of the storm there is a blowing snow potential. The goal with this kind of situation is to keep the roads open and passable."

Officials warned residents to expect as much as 14 inches of snow to fall between tonight and Friday, with the heaviest snowfall expected from 2 to 8 a.m. Friday. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning beginning 6 p.m. today and lasting at least 24 hours, and it recommended travelers stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.