News

Second round of snow hits suburbs

Posted December 07, 2009 10:00 pm

By Amie Shak

Snow clings to tree and power lines as the storm hits early on Miner St. in Arlington Heights. Bill Zars | Staff Photographer

Snowy weather caused delays and cancellations at Chicago airports Tuesday, with most of the snow expected to fall overnight.

Chicago's Department of Aviation said delays at O'Hare International Airport are more than 60 minutes. And more than 300 flights have been canceled. At Midway Airport, some flights are delayed more than an hour; there have been more than 25 cancellations.

About 3-6" of snow was expected in the northwest suburbs overnight, Accuweather.com officials said, with the city getting about 1-3" and southeast Wisconsin expecting to get bout 6-10" of snow overnight. The storm should roll out of Illinois Wednesday, officials said.

Most of the suburbs reported slippery roads but no major accidents Tuesday night. A downed power wire at Arlington Heights and Lake Cook roads slowed traffic from about 8-10 p.m. Tuesday, Buffalo Grove police said.

The Village of Waukegan activated emergency warming centers Tuesday and Wednesday - opening the library, Waukegan Township Park Place, the Waukegan Park District Hinkston Field House, Illinois Department of Human Services offices and the police department for warming during the day and Wildwood Presbyterian Church, 18630 W. Old Gages Lakes Road, Grayslake, and the Wesley Free Methodist Church, 3601 N. Lewis, Waukegan (men only) for overnight shelter for individuals and small groups.

Illinois State Police warned motorists to slow down and give themselves plenty of stopping distance between cars.

A winter storm warning remains in effect until 6 p.m. Wednesdya for much of northern and western Illinois. Those areas are expected to see between 4 inches and 8 inches of snow before the snow finally tapers off Wednesday evening.

Bitter cold is expected to move in following the snow, as temperatures are expected to plummet into single digits overnight, officials from the National Weather Service said.

McHenry County College in Crystal Lake closed for the day at 5 p.m. because of heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain in the forecast. The snow also led the McHenry County Department of Health to cancel an H1N1 clinic scheduled for Wednesday at Jacobs High School in Algonquin.

Traffic was slowed Tuesday morning due to the slippery conditions from the first wave of snow, but only some minor accidents were reported due to the weather. The early stretch of the evening commute also is slow going.

An Elgin water tower tells the weather story Tuesday morning as the Fox Valley area gets its first real taste of winter. Christopher Hankins | Staff Photographer

Wauconda resident Everett Werth shovels off his driveway as snow moves into the Chicagoland area early Tuesday morning. Paul Valade | Staff Photographer

Kim Kemph walks with Desi Tuesday morning on Park Street in Arlington Heights. Desi collected a plastic milk jug to help the environment and have a new toy. Bill Zars | Staff Photographer

Snow plows are out in full force Tuesday morning during the start of a winter storm.. Paul Valade | Staff Photographer

Snowfall collects on the prairie grasses at the Hampshire Forest Preserve Tuesday morning. Christopher Hankins | Staff Photographer

Jeanette DaSilva of Schaumburg takes her dog "Jackie" for a walk in the snow, along Schaumburg Road Tuesday morning. Mark Black | Staff Photographer

An IDOT plow truck clears the way along the eastbound lanes of the Jane Addams Tollway Tuesday morning. Christopher Hankins | Staff Photographer

A jogger heads down a snow-covered Brown Street in Wauconda Tuesday morning. Paul Valade | Staff Photographer

Jim Vleck clears his driveway in Rolling Meadows Tuesday morning. He was home on a vacation day from the public works department, but said he would probably be called to work later with around 10 inches of snow coming. Bill Zars | Staff Photographer

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Photo Galleries</h2> <ul class="gallery"> <li><a href="/story/?id=342612">Images from Tuesday morning's flurries </a></li> </ul> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=342657">Blizzard? Naperville schools may start late instead of cancel <span class="date">[12/08/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=342668">Snow forecast cancels Algonquin H1N1 clinic <span class="date">[12/08/09]</span></a></li> </ul> <h2>Related links</h2> <ul class="moreWeb"> <li><a href="http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?zoneid=ILZ014" class="mediaItem">Latest Forecast</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lot/" class="mediaItem">National Weather Service outlook</a></li> <li><a href="http://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?rid=lot&product=N0R&overlay=11101111&loop=no" class="mediaItem">National Weather Service radar</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.flychicago.com/fidsohare" class="mediaItem">O'Hare flight information</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.flychicago.com/fidsmidway" class="mediaItem">Midway flight information</a></li> <li><a href="http://metrarail.com/content/metra/en/home/service_updates/service_updates_alerts.html" class="mediaItem">Metra service advisories</a></li> <li><a href="http://wrc.gettingaroundillinois.com/winterroadconditions" class="mediaItem">Road conditions</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.gcmtravel.com/gcm/maps_chicago.jsp" class="mediaItem">Traffic conditions</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>

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