Warmer temps ease weather woes -- but evening commute could be rough

Most of the Chicago area missed the worst effects of a major ice storm expected last night and today, but weather experts say sleet and ice accumulations are expected by the evening rush hour.

"We are not totally out of the woods yet," said Andrew Krein, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

The ongoing drizzle is expected to turn to sleet in the late afternoon as an incoming cold front pushes temperatures to just below 32 degrees. Later tonight that ice will turn to light snow that will drop less than an inch before morning, Krein said.

For now, the region remains under a Freezing Rain or Ice Storm Advisory.

More Coverage Stories Local school closings Traffic conditions O'Hare flight information National Weather Service Warnings and Advisories AccuWeather radarAre you prepared? Take our ice storm quiz [12/10/07]

Last night's sleet and the continued winter weather has shut down schools across the suburbs today while causing continued problems for both drivers and fliers

O'Hare International Airport has racked up 550 flight cancellations today and delays are averaging 30 minutes to 2 hours. Midway is not reporting any delays, but has suffered 30 cancellations, says Chicago aviation spokesman Gregg Cunningham.

ComEd officials are bracing for any impact sleet this afternoon may have on their power grid. Frozen tree limbs are known to snap and break power lines.

ComEd is encouraging any customers who lose power or see a downed line - don't go near it - to call (800) 334-7661.

Here is some additional information on local issues related to the ongoing rain and pending sleet:

BATAVIA

No decision yet for Wednesday classes(5:35 p.m.)

The school district decides by 5:30 a.m. if there will be school or not. Superintendent Jack Barshinger said he starts talking to the district's building and grounds director at 4:30 a.m. to see how the area around the schools are. He also confers with other superintendents in the area and the City of Batavia. Whether the buses can run and enough drivers can make it in to work is also a consideration.

Batavia administrators hadn't made a decision on Wednesday's attendance as of tonight.

In addition to listening to the radio or checking the district's Web site, parents can sign up for emergency closing e-mails and text messages through the district's Web site at www.bps101.net. First click on "Tools," and then on the "Messenger" link. Parents will then get an e-mail to respond to to activate their account.

DES PLAINES

Des Plaines schools cancel evening events (3:32 p.m.)

Des Plaines Elementary District 62 has canceled all after-school activities today due to the hazardous weather conditions. Its SPARK after-school program will remain open its regular hours.

ST. CHARLES

Schools were open Tuesday (3:31 p.m.)

Schools were open today but all after-school activities and athletic events have been canceled. As far as Wednesday, according to spokeswoman Lynne Schwartz, it's District 303 policy for administrators to test the roads about 3 a.m. to assess conditions. If schools are to close, the information is posted on the district Web site and a voice message is sent to parents (who are part of a special phone system) by approximately 5:45 a.m.

BATAVIA

Schools open (1:10 p.m.)

Schools were open Tuesday. No decision on Wednesday.

GENEVA

Schools were open Tuesday (1:10 p.m.)

The decision to close comes down to student safety vs. the need for educational time.

"Safety is always going to win out," said Superintendent Kent Mutchler, who makes the call on whether to close schools.

When bad weather is predicted, Mutchler sets his alarm clock for 3:30 a.m. to get up and drive around the district to see conditions for himself. He also consults with transportation officials.

"The two worst things in my book are ice and fog," Mutchler said.

He tries to make a decision (on closing schools) by 5:30 a.m.

KANELAND

Classes and activities canceled Tuesday (1:10 p.m.)

All classes and activities in Kaneland Community Unit School District 302 were canceled Tuesday. No decision on school for Wednesday has been made.

WEST AURORA

Schools were open Tuesday (1:10 p.m.)

The superintendent waits until early morning - and no later than 6 a.m. - before calling a snow day. The superintendent consults with the district's transportation crew and with superintendents from other school districts in the area.

VERNON HILLS

Route 45 gates stuck (12:35 p.m.)

Slippery conditions were reported about 4 a.m. and again at about 8 a.m. in Vernon Hills but few problems were reported. "I guess we were prepared. No big accidents," said Vernon Hills police Officer Sharon Joseph. Railroad gates at Route 45 and Deerpath Road were frozen in the down position for about 15 minutes beginning at 5:40 a.m. and for an hour beginning at about 6:20 a.m., however. "Traffic was rerouted but it didn't seem to be that much of a problem," she said. By mid-morning, public works crews are out but were not applying salt. "We're just trying to keep the stuff (slush) off the street and hopefully it won't get frozen later on," said Public Works Director Ed Laudenslager.

LIBERTYVILLE

Some wires down (12:35 p.m.)

Things also were under control in Libertyville. "The roads were not as bad as they could have been," said John Heinz, public works chief. "The key is as I look at the trees, they have a nice coating of ice. I don't think we're out of the woods completely yet." Libertyville Fire Chief Rich Carani said there had been one report of wires down by mid-morning but no major outages. "Our basic concern is if we have large power outages, how are we going to handle it," he said.

MUNDELEIN

High school dance show off (12:35 p.m.)

At Mundelein High School the Orchesis dance group show planned for tonight has been canceled because of the weather. It will be rescheduled. Also at Mundelein High, a planned 6 p.m. reception with the school's next superintendent - whose name won't be announced until tonight's board meeting - was canceled. It, too, will be rescheduled. Classes at Libertyville and Vernon Hills high schools were canceled today, and district offices opened late. All Libertyville-Vernon Hills Area High School District 128 activities planned for today - including athletic practices, a senior citizens dinner and concert and community education classes - were canceled, too. Mundelein police reported no incidents of note.

LINCOLNSHIRE

Warm weather helped (12:35 p.m.)

In Lincolnshire, streets were salted early and no major issues were reported. "It's raining," Frank Tripicchio, public works director said about noon.

"Trust me, if it were 2 or 3 degrees cooler we'd have some major issues," he said.

WAUCONDA

Games canceled (12:35 p.m.)

Wauconda School District 118 canceled class for Tuesday. Also, a high school girls basketball game at Zion-Benton has been called off due to the weather.

GURNEE

Meetings, activities on hold (12:35 p.m.)

Gurnee's advisory finance committee postponed its meeting for tonight. The finance committee will next gather at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 8 at Gurnee village hall. Woodland Elementary District 50 called off all classes for today, as well as after-school and evening activities. Warren Township High School District 121 pupils were given the day off because of the weather. School officials also postponed co-curricular and after-school events. District 121 spokeswoman Carolyn Waller said Superintendent Phil Sobocinski drove around the area early this morning before deciding the classes and activities should be scrubbed.

MCHENRY CO.

Could have been worse (12:14 p.m.)

While the Fox Valley and McHenry County areas were expected to be the hardest hit, police and fire officials today reported no major problems other than cars sliding off of roadways, particularly in McHenry County. No major injuries or accidents have been reported. "We're not out of the woods, but we're not in as bad a shape as we could have been," said Barry Valentine, director of McHenry County Emergency Management. Pavement temperatures hovering around 30 to 31 degrees are not conducive to icing, permitting road crews to treat the pavement on main roads, he said. It may change when temperatures drop as expected later today but that temperature drop will likely turn the precipitation to snow instead of rain.

ELGIN

Metra troubles (12:14 p.m.)

Malfunctioning railroad gates caused extensive delays at two key Elgin locations when a Metra crossing and Union Pacific's State and Locust crossing gates were stuck in the down position for a couple of hours early this morning.