Storm packs punch, tangling traffic and closing schools

Today's snow brought white-knuckle commutes for many this morning but with plows out in force, transportation officials were promising smoother sailing for the afternoon rush.

"We've got 360 snowplow trucks and everyone is out on the roads," Illinois Department of Transportation spokesman Mike Claffey said. "We're trying to get it as clear as possible by the afternoon.

A storm that started Tuesday afternoon and continued this morning produced numerous spinouts and accidents but no fatalities, officials said. Areas in northern Cook, McHenry, Kane and Lake counties were hardest hit. More Coverage Stories Local school closings [12/5/07] Traffic conditions Snowfall totals O'Hare flight information AccuWeather radar Forecast: More to come [12/5/07] Despite improving conditions, authorities urged motorists to use common sense."People need to be cautious and go slow," Claffey said. Lake-effect snow was still a factor in parts of Cook and Lake counties today. Another concern will be expected freezing temperatures tonight that could create ice patches on the roads.A Metra spokesman noted that weather conditions caused some delays this morning but things were back to normal by noon.Dozens of area schools were closed today due to the snow, including most schools in Arlington Heights, Deerfield and Highland Park. Others, like Buffalo Grove High, Prospect High and Wheeling High, opened late.As of 9:30 a.m., Arlington Heights had reported 7 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service. Hawthorn Woods checked in at 6.8 inches and Woodstock 6.1 inches. COOK CO. Ewwwww, beets! (2:58 p.m.)There's a different type of product going on Hanover Park's roads this winter. The public works department is using GeoMelt -which is basically beet juice mixed with brine. The juice lowers the brine's freezing point to about minus-30 degrees, making it a better ice-melting agent than the standard road salt. Crews stayed out all night and the village had a fleet of nine trucks out at the height of the storm, not counting the work it contracts. Other than a scattering of minor accidents along Barrington Road, no major traffic incidents were reported. COOK CO. A lot better than last year (2:58 p.m.)Unlike last year, the Buffalo Grove Public Works department reported no flood of phone calls related to snow cleanup. During the snow season last year, hundreds of residents called to complain about a lack of snow removal. Rick Kuhl, public works director, said the village had a fleet of 20 trucks out by 11 p.m. last night, and they will be working through 3:30 p.m. today. The roads should be all clean, he said, and the crews will just be working on salting the streets to help the sun melt the ice. COOK CO. Hey, watch where you dump that (2:58 p.m.)Initial snow removal was no challenge for Schaumburg's public works department, said Public Works Director Steve Weinstock. But he said some homeowners unwittingly create a problem in keeping streets clear by letting their snow blowers dump snow back onto roadways that have already been cleaned. This can be fixed simply by moving the discharge vents the opposite way on the snow blowers. "They can help the situation by trying to be a little more careful with that," Weinstock said. COOK CO. Police: Keep your distance (2:03 p.m.)Hoffman Estates police counted 14 crashes during Tuesday's night's snowstorm. Sgt. Jim Campbell said none were serious and no one was seriously injured, and that most of the crashes involved cars skidding through intersections while trying to stop. It's crucial in weather like this, Campbell said, to keep plenty of distance between you and the car in front. FOX VALLEY Only slightly more accidents than usual in Aurora (1:25 p.m.)Aurora police responded to about 30 accidents between 5 p.m. Tuesday and 10:30 a.m. today, which is a little higher than normal, police spokesman Dan Ferrelli said. There were no serious injuries from any of the accidents. DUPAGE CO. Naperville snow melter may spring into action today (1:21 p.m.)Naperville's new snow-melting machine may get its first workout of the season later in the day. Public Works Director Dave Van Vooren said workers would likely take the recently purchased $275,000 machine to the train station parking lots and downtown to get rid of accumulated snow.The machine works by dumping snow into a superheated vat of water. The snow melts in the water and the excess pours out of the machine and down nearby storm drains. The city tested the machine last year and bought one in the spring. DUPAGE CO.Snow blamed for six-car crash near Bolingbrook/Naperville border (1:21 p.m.)A six-car crash this morning on Washington Street between Royce and Boughton roads near Naperville and Bolingbrook was blamed on snowy roads. The crash occurred just before 6 a.m. No injuries were reported, but southbound traffic was closed for some time, said Naperville police Cmdr. Dave Hoffman.The wreckage was cleared and the roads were opened about an hour later, Bolingbrook police said. Hoffman said at least 26 other crashes were reported in Naperville between 4 p.m. Tuesday and 10 a.m. today, all of which he attributed to the snowfall. The department also had 25 calls for motorist assistance for flat tires, lockouts or stuck vehicles during the same time period. Non-snow days average less than five such calls, he said. LAKE CO. Route 22 'horrendous' but few major crashes (11:49 a.m.)Mundelein public works employees worked 12-hour and then 18-hour shifts Tuesday night and Wednesday morning as snow continued falling, Director Kenneth Miller said.Forty-two workers, including Miller, hit the village's streets in 24 trucks. They reported no major problems and only five complaints from residents, three of which were about snow in their driveways, Miller said.Although he was tired, Miller wasn't yet ready to take a break Wednesday morning. Preparing for the storm expected tonight (Thursday night) was next on his agenda, he said.In Lincolnshire, traffic on Route 22 was "horrendous" Wednesday morning, Police Chief Randy Melvin said. Eastbound and westbound cars were moving so slowly, the traffic flow on Route 45 was even affected, he said.No major accidents were reported in Lincolnshire. One motorist hit a decorative street light at Cornell Lane and Riverwoods Road, Melvin said, but no one was hurt. COOK CO. Dist. 25, park district cancellations (11:48 a.m.)All Northwest Suburban High School District 214 schools opened two hours later than the normal Wednesday to make sure the school's parking lots had been plowed. The school day will end at its normal time.Of its many elementary feeder districts, though, only one - Arlington Heights Elementary District 25 - actually decided to close school for the day. All afternoon and evening activities have also been canceled, including Market Day at Patton Elementary School.The Arlington Heights Park District also automatically cancels recreation department programs until 3 p.m. on days when District 25 cancels classes. The park district expects to decide by 2 p.m. today if programs held between 3 and 6 p.m. are canceled and will decide by about 4 p.m. whether classes after 6 p.m. are canceled. COOK CO. Semi crashes into hydrant (11:48 a.m.)Arlington Heights Police shut down an intersection for several hours after a semi-truck driver ran over a fire hydrant, causing water to spray everywhere.The truck driver was trying to turn into the Terramere Shopping Center at Arlington Heights and Lake-Cook roads at about 7:20 a.m. today, according to the Arlington Heights Police Department. No one was injured. Police are still investigating the incident. FOX VALLEY No injuries in separate crashes (11:34 a.m.)A black Hyundai traveling south on Route 25 collided with a school bus traveling north about 7:15 this morning just north of Army Trail Road in St. Charles Township near Wayne. No one was injured. According to Kane County Sheriff's police, the driver of the car was attempting to turn east onto Army Trail Road and lost control due to slippery conditions.No children were on the school bus, and neither driver was hurt, according to police.At about 5 this morning, a truck traveling west on Interstate 88 near Route 56 in Sugar Grove slid into a ditch. State police called a tow truck and no injuries were reported. 512332The snow appears to be no problem for Kate Lahsin, 5, taking a trip down Rotary Hill today in Naperville.Tanit Jarusan | Staff Photographer 512361Rodney Vojcik, foreground, of Hanover Park and Radek Malenak of Buffalo Grove do some snowkiting at Campton Hills Park in St. Charles.Rick West | Staff Photographer 512336Ron Rausch of Mundelein shovels snow near the curb onto his one-year-old dog, Candy, as people dig out from the first major snow storm of the winter in Lake County.Gilber R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer 512346Roy Dudzik of Cary said he had a hard time starting his snow blower for the first time this year.George LeClaire | Staff Photographer 512318Two-year-old Julie Roper of Batavia looks about as happy as most adults did this morning after being greeted with several inches of snow to shovel off sidewalks and driveways.Rick West | Staff Photographer 512300Target employee Jeff Roberson picks up shopping carts Tuesday night as snow falls in Wheaton.Tanit Jarusan | Staff Photographer 512271The Lake County Transportation Department clears Hawley Rd. near Mundelein as people dig out from the first major snow storm of the winter in Lake County.Gilber R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer 512355A.J. Leaf, 4, helps clear the snow from his parents sidewalk in Cary.George LeClaire | Staff Photographer 512336Kevin Serna clears snow from a friend's car parked in the Rolling Meadows High School parking lot during Tuesday's storm.Joe Lewnard | Staff Photographer 512308Caleb Roper, 7, of Batavia, tackles his mom Julie in their front yard this morning after several inches of snow fell overnight in the Tri-Cities. The Ropers homeschool their children, and declared today a snow day.Rick West | Staff Photographer 340512A large snowflake ornaments hangs from a tree on Main Street in downtown Elburn, as the real thing falls around it.Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer 360512Ralph Alexander of Wheaton is almost obscured by the plume of snow coming from his snow blower this morning.Marcelle Bright | Staff Photographer 512331David Falk, 71, of Wauconda uses a snowblower to clear his driveway as people dig out from the first major snow storm of the winter in Lake County.Gilber R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer