Temperature free fall closes schools, disrupts morning travel
Unusual weather that had Illinoisans thinking spring abruptly transformed to a nasty winter storm Tuesday as powerful hail and snow blasted the state, downing trees and causing perilous driving conditions.
"It's pretty miserable outside," said National Weather Service meteorologist Gino Izzi.
The National Weather Service has issued wind chill and blowing snow advisories until noon today. West winds of 20 to 30 MPH combined with temperatures below 0 are leading to reduced visibilities and dangerously low wind chills, according to forecasters.
The weather also forced some school closings, especially in the Will County area. Locally, most Bolingbrook schools are closed, including Bolingbrook High School. Oakton Community College in Des Plaines also is delaying its opening until noon.
Wind gusts hit up to 55 mph in northern Illinois and temperatures fell in the single digits. Some areas were expected to dip below zero overnight and portions of northern Illinois could expect up to an inch of snow by morning, Izzi said.
Thermometer readings dropped dramatically, plummeting from highs in the 40s in Chicago earlier Tuesday. Wind chill values were expected to fall below minus 20 by Wednesday.
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