News

Most of area dodges winter's worst, but brutal cold coming

Posted December 08, 2009 10:00 pm

Lee Filas

It was a sloppy go getting across the Highland Street bridge as more snow falls in Elgin on Wednesday. Brian Hill | Staff Photographer

Wet roads and plunging temperatures could spell trouble for the Chicago area later this evening, officials say.

As the snow slows and mixes with a light trickle of rain, officials are now warning that temperatures dropping to single digits this evening and overnight could cause slick roadways.

About 7 inches of snow dropped in the McHenry County area, with about 4 inches in Lake and Kane counties. However, most area roads were passable at 6 a.m. Wednesday, officials said, with some scattered slick spots causing some minor accidents.

Rainfall seemed to help reduce the snow accumulation, officials said, as Cook County only saw between 1 and 3 inches overnight Tuesday.

O'Hare International Airport recorded only 2.8 inches by morning, meteorologists said.

Officials from the Chicago Depoartment of Aviation said, due to de-icing of airplanes and weather issues here and on the east coast, delays have been averaging 45 minutes on all flights in and out of O'Hare. They added about 200 flights have been canceled due to the weather. At Midway, there are no delays but about 25 flights have been canceled.

Passengers are being advised to check airline status prior to heading to Midway or O'Hare.

A winter storm advisory remains in effect until 6 p.m., officials said, as the storm continues to back up and could drop another inch before it ends. In Lake County, it has been snowing for more than 2 hours and about an inch has already fallen since Wednesday morning.

A handful of schools in McHenry County-- specifically near Marengo, Huntley and Harvard -- have canceled classes today. Those schools include Harvard High School and Junior High School in Harvard, Faith Lutheran High School in Crystal Lake, Independence Elementary School in Bolingbrook, Locust School in Marengo, Marengo High School in Marengo, Marengo Middle School in Marengo, and Riley School in Marengo.

However, as the snow tapers off, an arctic blast will hit the Midwest, dropping temperatures into the single digits this evening.

Meteorologists said temperatures will only reach 5 degrees overnight Wednesday, with high winds that could gust up to 50 mph. That would cause a windchill of minus 20 degrees, officials caution.

Temperatures are expected to drop below freezing at noon Wednesday and be only 15 degrees at 6 p.m. Wednesday evening. The high Thursday is only expected to reach 11 degrees, officials said.

Motorists should take caution and watch out for black ice when traversing the roadways late Wednesday and Thursday, officials said.

Jose Ramirez of Elgin slops across the Highland Street bridge as more snow falls in Elgin on Wednesday. Brian Hill | Staff Photographer

Ron Hain of Hoffman Estates tries to blow out the heavy wet snow from his driveway. Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Dannie Edgington of Huntley shovels his drive as more snow falls in McHenry County Wednesday. Brian Hill | Staff Photographer

Tim Dirnberger launches his son, 8-year-old Mitchell, down a hill conveniently located behind their home in Hoffman Estates. Tim says they've been sledding on that hill since his kids were 2-years-old. Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Horses trying to graze through a blanket of snow at Horizon Farms in Barrington Hills. Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Tim Dirnberger launches his daughter, 11-year-old Katelyn, down a hill conveniently located behind their home in Hoffman Estates. Tim says they've been sledding on that hill since his kids were 2-years-old. Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

College of Lake County student brave the snow as they head to class Wednesday morning. Temperatures are expected to drop this evening. Steve Lundy | Staff Photographer

A snowplow cleans up a Geneva street as wind and snow pound the Tri-Cities Wednesday. Icy temperatures and higher winds are expected overnight and tomorrow. Rick West | Staff Photographer

12-year-old Tim Dirnberger sleds down the hill behind his house in Hoffman Estates. Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

A snow plow clears off the remnants of a winter storm on Route 45 in Libertyville Wednesday morning, that fizzled out about 10 p.m. Tuesday night. Steve Lundy | Staff Photographer

Eight-year-old Mariel Sebby helps her mom clear off snow from their sidewalk Wednesday in Libertyville. Steve Lundy | Staff Photographer

Todd Silvey and his Elgin neighbors shovel out from thick, wet snow Wednesday morning. Rick West | Staff Photographer

"It's the first snow of the year, you can't be too upset" says Lonni Oldham of Huntley while she clears her driveway Wednesday. Cold weather and more snow are to continue. Brian Hill | Staff Photographer

Snow clings to a trees in Huntley Wednesday. Brian Hill | Staff Photographer

Wind and snow pound the Tri-Cities Wednesday. Icy temperatures and higher winds are expected overnight and tomorrow. Rick West | 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=342937">Images from Wednesday's storms </a></li> </ul> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=342742">Cops to drivers: Slow down and wait for your snow legs <span class="date">[12/09/09]</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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