Good bye blizzard; Hello big freeze

As the Chicago area continues to dig out from the third largest snowfall recorded in history, meteorologists are now warning that people should bundle up to protect themselves against freezing temperatures.

Weather forecasters said it's only 4 degrees at O'Hare International Airport this morning, with wind chills making it feel like it's negative 15 degrees.

At those temperatures, officials said, hypothermia and frostbite can set in within 30 minutes and people should use caution.

In the interim, though, agencies are still digging out after 20.2-inches fell on the Chicago area Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

Lake Shore Drive, considered the worst of the closed roads due to the blizzard of 2011, officially reopened at about 7 a.m. this morning, officials said.

However, officials warned slick roadways are everywhere, and people should use extreme caution when traveling this morning.

Most counties opened closed roads with most areas cleared as best as possible considering the amount of snow that fell. However, motorists should still use caution when traveling because of drifting snow due to windy conditions.

Officials are reported isolated pockets of traffic congestion due to snow being on the roads. Arlington Heights Road and Algonquin Road in Arlington Heights and Illinois Road between Barrington Road and North Roselle Road near Streamwood seem to be the worst areas, traffic officials said. People are being asked to find alternate routes around the worst areas.

There were four deaths listed during the heavy blizzard conditions.

An autopsy is scheduled today for a 48-year-old Grayslake man who was found in his car at 11 p.m. Tuesday night. Lake County Coroner Richard Keller said the death is due to natural causes Wednesday.

In addition, a 69-year-old man from Downers Grove and a 58-year-old man from Lyons township reportedly died of heart attacks after shoveling snow Wednesday. Officials are still investigating the cases.

Also, police said a 60-year-old Chicago man died after falling into Lake Michigan near Belmont Harbor Tuesday night.

Officials said, most roads have paths carved through the snow and shoulders remain icy, so extreme caution should be used.

Kane County officials said, though, that Route 72 remains closed from Walker Road to the west county line because some vehicles remain in the roadway. Officials will have those out later today, officials said.

In addition, McHenry County has closed portions of Route 120 and Route 173 for a few hours this morning to continue snow removal. Those roads should be opened intermittently throughout the morning.

In addition, because of the cold weather, blowing snow, and still digging out, all McHenry County government centers will remain closed again today. Officials said they expect to reopen tomorrow.

A few flights landed at O'Hare International Airport late Wednesday and early Thursday morning, officials from the Chicago Department of Aviation reported. However, the clean up continues at the airport and cancellations are still ongoing.

Officials said 1,000 flights at O'Hare were canceled Thursday while 30 were canceled at Midway.

Officials also warn that today is expected to be an extremely busy travel day at the airport as passengers stuck in Chicago for the blizzard will be trying to rebook flights out.

All in all, 2,200 flights were canceled at O'Hare and 400 flights were canceled at Midway Tuesday and Wednesday because of the snowstorm, officials said.

They said people should continue to monitor their flights over the Internet before coming to the airport to catch a flight.

As of 10 p.m. last night, 12,000 ComEd customers remained without power in the Chicago area. Officials from the utility are saying power should be completely restored by today.

Metra officials said seven of the 11 Metra lines will operate normally this morning, but four of the rail lines will operate with reduced schedules.

Officials said the Metra Electric line, Rock Island, Southwest Service, Heritage Corridor, Milwaukee West, Milwaukee North, and North Central Service lines will operate normally. The rest will have reduced schedules.

In addition, the Metra website is reporting delays of between 20 and 30 minutes system wide due to delays from the cold and snow. For example, train 2109 due in Fox Lake at 10:08 a.m. is running 20 minutes behind schedule because of snow issues.

For more information about service changes or delays, please check the Metra website at metrarail.com.