UPDATE: Dangerous road conditions have emerged across the Chicago area following significant overnight snowfall, raising urgent travel concerns for commuters this morning. With snow accumulating at rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour in some regions, officials are warning drivers to exercise extreme caution.
Authorities report that several schools in the Chicago metropolitan area and Northwest Indiana have announced closures and delayed starts due to the adverse weather. ABC7 meteorologists have issued an AccuWeather Alert for Monday, emphasizing the potential for hazardous travel conditions throughout the morning commute.
As of 4 a.m. Monday, snowfall has already led to over 400 flight cancellations at Chicago airports, with O’Hare International Airport experiencing 231 cancellations and average delays of up to 24 minutes. Midway International Airport is also feeling the impact, reporting 130 cancellations and delays averaging 15 minutes. The situation has been compounded by FAA operational reductions this week, leading to frustrating delays for travelers.
The City of Chicago’s Department of Streets and Sanitation is actively deploying salt-spreader trucks to address the dangerous road conditions. City officials are urging residents to take necessary precautions while driving during this severe winter weather.
A Winter Storm Warning is currently in effect for multiple counties, including Starke, Marshall, LaPorte, St. Joseph, and Berrien in Indiana until midnight Tuesday. Additionally, Indiana’s Lake and Porter counties are under a Winter Storm Warning until 6 p.m. Monday, while Cook and Will counties in Illinois face similar warnings until noon Monday. Nearby, Kankakee County is also under a Winter Storm Warning until noon Monday, and a Winter Weather Advisory is in place for DuPage and Will counties until noon.
Light, intermittent snow showers could continue to affect the area throughout Monday afternoon, with total snow accumulations expected to reach between 3 and 6 inches in regions under the Winter Storm Warning.
Stay tuned for further updates as the situation develops, and check local weather reports for the latest forecasts and travel advisories.
