Chicago Weather: Snow Saturday night, bitter cold to follow
ABC7 STAFF REPORT
CHICAGO (WLS) -- The Chicago area could get 1-4 inches of snow Saturday night into Sunday morning, followed by bitterly cold temperatures on Sunday that could bring wind chills as cold as -25.
A Winter Weather Advisory was issued until 6 a.m. Sunday for most of the Chicago area. Snow started late Friday afternoon before tapering off in this morning. Temperatures were in the mid 20s Saturday morning with periods of freezing rain and drizzle mixed with snow.
Saturday night, less snow was expected south of Chicago, however northwest Indiana could get hardest hit. A Winter Storm Warning was issued starting at 8 p.m. Saturday until noon on Sunday for Lake and Porter counties in Indiana. A Winter Storm Warning was issued for LaPorte (Ind.) and Berrien (Mich.) counties from 2 a.m. Sunday to noon Sunday.
Parts of LaPorte and Berrien counties could be particularly hard hit be lake effect snow, with 6.6 inches of snow expected in Michigan City, Ind.
O'Hare is expected to get 1.7 inches, with 1.3 at Midway. In the suburbs, Crystal Lake is expected to get 3.6 inches of snow and 1.4 in Naperville.
SUNDAY'S BEARS GAME WILL BE COLD!
Sunday's Bears-Packers game at Solider Field could be the coldest football game ever played in Chicago. The kickoff temperature is expected to be 1 degree, with a wind chill between -15 and -25. The coldest game ever played was in 2008 when it was 2 degrees.
On Friday, StubHub said seats are going for less than $40.
Moira O'Connor, director of operations at Soldier Field, said they are prepared for the cold with extra warming stations and medical staff.
The Bears spent 75 minutes outdoors Thursday in single-digit temperatures trying to prepare. There's a bit of a debate over who's going to wear sleeves. Head coach John Fox said "As long as they perform well, I don't care what they wear."
WATCH: COLD WEATHER NOT STOPPING HOLIDAY SHOPPERS
At 9:30 p.m., O'Hare International Airport reported 502 cancellations and a 34-minute delay. At Midway Airport, there were 99 cancellations and a 34-minute delay.
The winter weather caused problems in other parts of the country.
On the East Coast, at least three people died in crashes. Two of the victims were in Maryland, killed in a fiery pileup involving dozens of vehicles.
A third person died in a crash in Virginia.
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WATCH: TRAVEL CONDITIONS
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Earlier Saturday, freezing rain in the morning made some roads slick. The city deployed hundreds of snow plows and salt trucks on Friday to clear the roads.
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The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) advised the public that the rain, snow and high winds is expected to impact travel Saturday evening into overnight. IDOT said the icy conditions and low visibility could make driving dangerous.
For those that have to travel, IDOT recommends they take it slow, make sure the gas tank is full and to keep emergency supplies in the vehicle. More information on safety can be found on their Facebook and Twitter page.
ABC7 StormTracker monitored roads in Joliet Saturday morning as freezing drizzle fell, creating some icy spots. Flash freezing on roads is a possibility Saturday night into Saturday morning when temperatures will drop at least 20 degrees. Flash freezing occurs when temps drop quickly and moisture on roadways freezes quickly.
