RADAR: track the winter storm with LIVE Doppler7 MAX
Snow spread across northern Illinois on Tuesday afternoon and heaped quickly in the suburbs as snow fell at a rate of 2.5 to 5 centimeters an hour in some areas.
As of 9 pm, Carol Stream reported 4.5 inches, Elburn 4.2 inches, Aurora 3.6 inches, Naperville 3.5 inches, Romeoville 3.2 inches and Elk Grove Village 3 inches.
WATCH: Latest ABC7 AccuWeather Forecast
The heaviest accumulations will occur in the northwestern suburbs, where parts of McHenry and DeKalb counties can see up to 20 centimeters of snow.
Amounts of snow above 4 inches are possible north of Interstate 88, but only about 1 to 3 inches are expected in the southern and northwestern Indiana suburbs.
STORM TIME:
Between 9 pm and 3 am, the snow started to mix with hail and freezing rain. Ice accumulations of up to two tenths of an inch are also possible inland, away from the shore of Lake Michigan.
After 4 am, precipitation changed to just rain in much of the area as temperatures rose above zero.
Total accumulation of snow and hail is expected to be 1 to 4 inches, with the largest amounts of snow expected along I-88 and to the north. Areas of the city can see about two inches of snow.
AN Winter storm alert is in effect until 9:00 am on Wednesday for Boone Counties, North Cook, De Kalb, Lake, Lee, Kane, McHenry, Ogle and Winnebago in Illinois and Walworth County in Wisconsin.
AN Winter weather warning is in effect until 9:00 am on Wednesday for Central Cook; DuPage; Kendall; La Salle; North Will and South Cook counties.
AN Winter weather warning is in effect until 6:00 am Wednesday morning for Eastern Will, Grundy, Kankakee, Livingston, Southern Will in Illinois and Lake and Porter counties in Indiana.
WATCH: Snowblowers hit roads as conditions deteriorate quickly
The first significant winter blizzard left a trail of crushed metal as spinouts and accidents filled the suburban roads. The snow arrived before the night rush, with the northern and northwest suburbs on target.
“I’ve seen four or five, Eric, I like people hitting the barrier and everything,” said driver Marc Groen. “A couple messed up cars.”
In Lake and McHenry counties, strong winds created almost white conditions. At one point, traffic near Gurnee stopped.
On the 5300 block of South Hyde Park Boulevard on Chicago’s South Side, a CTA bus got into a parked car, officials said.
At Hinsdale Oasis, along Interstate 294, heavy snow caused many truck drivers to stop and wait for the storm to pass.
“I will sit at night. I will park overnight,” said truck driver Bruce Brooks. “I’m going to let them do what they have to do tonight. Skip the roads, plow and do whatever it takes, and I’ll try again in the morning.”
Illinois Tollway has its full fleet of nearly 200 snowplows trying to keep up, but it is a difficult task. Drivers are being warned to go slow and, if possible, stay off the road during the height of the storm.
The Illinois State Police has apparently been inundated with so many calls that it is asking drivers involved in an injury-free accident to exchange information with the other driver and report later.
Roads and sidewalks remained slippery until Wednesday morning, while freezing rain continued to cover the ground.
A snowplow hit the Midway airfield wall at about 3:20 am. The driver was taken to Holy Cross Hospital with minor injuries, Chicago police said.
Drivers should plan extra time on their morning commutes.
Wednesday morning’s rain should not melt all the snow, but it should help the roads, said ABC 7 Chicago meteorologist Greg Dutra.
WATCH: Barrington launches plows as northwestern suburbs prepare for heavy snow
Road crews in Barrington have already been deployed, salting and cleaning the streets with an emphasis on the main arteries of the village. Barrington has about 12 trucks in its fleet.
Public works director Jeremie Lukowicz said his teams were ready for this months ago.
“Before winter even started – in October, November – we started checking all of our machines, making sure that everything is ready to be deployed,” said Lukowicz. “Having this happen overnight allows us, hopefully, to keep everything clean before they leave the next morning.”
Considering the fact that we are in a pandemic, Lukowicz said that they require each crew member to sanitize their area before and after getting on the truck. In addition, trucks are also cleaned between shifts.
WATCH: Chicago sees first significant snowfall of the season
The Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation deployed 287 snowmobiles to respond to snow Tuesday night and early morning. Salt spreaders will focus on keeping the city’s waterways and Lake Shore Drive passable until the snow stops.
Some power cuts are possible due to the combined effects of the accumulation of wet snow, some ice formation and wind gusts of up to 30 mph.
WATCH: Icy conditions knock cyclists down on Chicago’s lakeside path
O’Hare and Midway airports suffered only minor delays due to the storm.
Another winter storm is expected on Thursday and Friday, Dutra said. It will probably arrive after midnight on Friday, with a winter mix turning to rain.
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