Chicago Faces Urgent Travel Warnings as Snow Blankets Area

UPDATE: The Chicago area is grappling with dangerous road conditions following an overnight snowfall that has left several inches of snow on the ground. As of early this morning, December 4, 2023, ABC7 meteorologists have issued an AccuWeather Alert for possible hazardous travel conditions during the morning commute.

Roads are slick and treacherous, particularly in regions experiencing intense lake-effect snow, where snowfall rates reached 1 to 2 inches per hour. Some areas have already accumulated over 3 inches of snow. Light snow showers are expected to persist throughout the afternoon, further complicating travel for residents.

In response to the severe winter weather, many schools across the Chicago area and Northwest Indiana have announced closures and delayed starts.

Airport operations are also severely impacted. More than 400 flights have been canceled at both O’Hare and Midway airports due to the weather conditions. As of 4 a.m. today, O’Hare reported 231 cancellations with delays averaging 24 minutes, while Midway faced 130 cancellations and an average delay of 15 minutes. Travelers are advised to check their flight status before heading to the airport.

The City of Chicago’s Department of Streets and Sanitation is actively deploying salt-spreader trucks to mitigate hazardous road conditions. City officials urge residents to exercise caution while driving and to stay informed about the latest weather reports.

Winter Storm Warnings are currently in effect for multiple counties, including:

– Starke, Marshall, LaPorte, St. Joseph, and Berrien counties until midnight Tuesday
– Indiana’s Lake and Porter counties until 6 p.m. Monday
– Illinois’ Lake County until 9 a.m. Monday
– Cook and Will counties until noon Monday
– Kankakee County until noon Monday
– DuPage and Will counties under a Winter Weather Advisory until noon Monday
– Indiana’s Newton and Jasper counties from midnight until 6 p.m. Monday

Residents are encouraged to prepare for continued snowfall and potential disruptions throughout the day. Authorities will continue to monitor conditions and provide updates as this situation develops.