What’s expected to be the biggest snowstorm to hit the Chicago area in about two years started in the far south suburbs before rush hour Monday, with the storm system moving east as afternoon turned to evening, according to the National Weather Service.
The storm was expected to blanket the area, especially east of Interstate 355, with 5 to 8 inches of snow — “maybe even a little bit more,” said Brett Borchardt, a meteorologist with the weather service’s Chicago-area office. Light snowfall around sunset was expected to get heavier after dark, with 3 to 6 inches of the total snowfall expected overnight, between 8 p.m. and 3 a.m.
Monday evening, snow spread across the metro area in pockets, said Matt Friedlein, a meteorologist with the weather service. Friedlein said most of Chicagoland will see snowfall, with fluctuating intensity and visibility depending on the area.
Far south neighborhoods could see up to 3 inches of snow, with neighborhoods north and near the lake expecting 4 to 8 inches overnight, he added.
Area transportation departments were readying their snowplows Monday as transit agencies also watched weather reports.
Both Chicago airports reported flight delays of less than 15 minutes Monday night, with 119 flight cancellations at O’Hare International Airport and 46 cancellations at Midway International Airport.
And the northbound lanes of the Chicago Skyway to the northbound Dan Ryan Expressway express lanes were closed due to the storm.
The city issued a series of weather warnings Monday night, warning residents of heavy snow accumulations and high wind gusts.
“Residents are urged to take precaution, plan accordingly and allow extra time while driving to and from your destination. Hazardous conditions are likely to impact the Monday evening and Tuesday morning commutes. Some power outages are possible due to the combined effects of the expected wetter nature of the snow and strong and gusty winds,” the Office of Emergency Management and Communications said in a statement.
An estimated 280 salt spreaders are responding to the storm with a focus on Chicago’s main routes and Lake Shore Drive, according to the Department of Streets and Sanitation.
As temperatures drop below freezing, warming areas are available at the city’s six community service centers from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, according to the Department of Family and Support Services. If needed, libraries and park facilities may also activate warming areas. The Garfield Community Service Center in East Garfield Park is also open on a 24-hour basis.
States farther west, including Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and Missouri, were taking the brunt of the storm Monday afternoon, Borchardt said. A winter storm warning was in effect for 4 p.m. Monday to 5 p.m. Tuesday for Cook, DuPage and Will counties, with other parts of the Chicago area under warnings until midday Tuesday.
“We give broad amounts because we’re at the 5- to 8-inch range, but even within that, it’s very highly localized,” said Eric Lenning, also a Chicago-area weather service meteorologist.
“Northeast winds gusting as high as 40 mph will lead to blowing snow and periods of very low visibility, especially along the immediate Lake Michigan shore,” according to the weather service.
“As you go farther south, well south of the city, south of (Interstate) 80, it’ll be freezing rain and ice more so than snow for travelers headed that way,” Lenning said.
The storm was forecast well into a winter season that has spared Chicago from seeing large accumulations of snow, according to the weather service. Some schools offering in-person classes will close Tuesday and offer remote learning or delay start times in response to the heavy snow, according to WGN radio’s Emergency Closing Center.
Wind gusts may build waves on Lake Michigan of 8 to 13 feet, causing minor to moderate flooding, according to the weather service, which also recommended that people avoid lakefront bike paths and use caution along the lakefront because of the potential for flooding.
Keep up on the latest weather news by visiting the Tribune’s weather page.
Chicago Tribune’s Robert McCoppin contributed.
