Slow down, it's icy out there

Slow down, leave earlier and give yourself plenty of time to stop when heading out this morning.

That's the advice officials all over the state are giving this morning as slippery, icy conditions greet morning rush hour motorists Thursday.

Meteorologists claim less than an inch of snow landed on the Chicago area overnight, but the plunging temperatures coupled with rain earlier this week caused sheets of ice to form across roadways and sent salt crews scrambling.

Dozens of accidents were reported across the Chicago area Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Officials in Lake County are still calling the area extremely slick.

Route 12 in Fox Lake, Volo, Wauconda, Lake Zurich and Kildeer had more than six accidents Wednesday night and Thursday morning. The worst seemed to be on Route 12 up north where there were reports of a six car pile up in Fox Lake near Big Hollow Road. No injuries were reported in the incident.

This morning, police and rescue crews continue to race to accidents on Route 12, with most seeming to be between Wauconda and Barrington, officials said. The worst of those seem to be on Route 12 and Case Road. It's unclear if there were accidents in the accident that took place at about 5:30 a.m.

Accidents are also reported at Grand Avenue and Old Grand Avenue in Gurnee, Route 120 and Wilson Road in Volo, a jackknifed semi at Routes 41 and 176 in Lake Bluff and Milwaukee Avenue and Lake Cook Road near Buffalo Grove.

Police report an accident with injuries in the southbound lanes of Route 41 at Grand Avenue. Police and rescue crews are on the scene, but it remains unclear at this time the severity of the injuries.

In addition, Mount Prospect Road has been shut down by Des Plaines police between Touhy and Oakton due to severe icy conditions.

Today's forecast is dry but cold, with a high temperature of about 20 degrees, the National Weather Service is reporting.

Weather officials also expect a winter storm capable of producing up to six inches of snow will hit the Chicago area Friday evening and into Saturday morning.

Check back with dailyherald.com later for additional updates as more information is released.