Chicago Weather: Snow falls on heels of record cold temperatures
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Snow moved into the Chicago area on the heels of historic cold.
A thin layer of snow turned already-frozen pavement into a slippery, dangerous mess. On and off ramps were especially treacherous, some more like ice rinks than asphalt.
Anywhere from a dusting to three inches fell Thursday evening, depending on where you are, but it didn't take much to create dangerous situations.
Melissa Heine totaled her car while exiting I-294.
"I spun out a couple of times and hit the lamp post near Cicero," she said, grateful to be uninjured in the wreck.
Temperatures dropped to -21 at O'Hare Airport, which set a record low for Jan. 31 in Chicago. The previous record low for Jan. 31 was -12, set in 1985. The all-time record low for any time in Chicago is -27.
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Winds were not as strong as on Wednesday, but a Wind Chill Warning was in effect until noon Thursday with wind chills as low as -50. Temperatures in the suburbs got to as low as -32 in Sugar Grove, -28 in Barrington and -26 in Ottawa.
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The lowest temp recorded Wednesday was -23 (and -49 wind chills) at O'Hare International Airport, breaking the record for Jan. 30. Wednesday's high of -10, which was recorded at midnight, is one degree shy of the all-time coldest high for the city.
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Temperatures finally reached zero Thursday evening and the snow began right around the same time.
A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for Kane, Will, DeKalb, Grundy, Kankakee, Kendall and Livingston counties in Illinois and Jasper and Newton counties in northwest Indiana until 3 a.m. Friday.
CLICK HERE for our full ABC7 AccuWeather Forecast
Even before the first flakes hit the ground drivers it as a rough ride for drivers. The Illinois Department of Transportation said it helped more than 300 stranded motorists since Tuesday, and the Illinois Tollway's Zero Patrol assisted more than 500.
AAA said it received more than quadruple the usual number of calls for help.
"Right now we are responding only to emergency calls. That will probably be lifted tomorrow, but we really want to get to those first who are stuck in the elements," said Beth Mosher, AAA Chicago spokesperson.
Truck drivers got hit with a brutal one-two punch, as the cold crippled their diesel engines and the snow made roads too treacherous.
"Slippery, and two, three trucks already in accidents on the road. Cars going in ditch," said Buneet Cshabra, truck driver.
"If you are driving out there, do not be in a hurry. Your life is more important than that," Heine said.
PUBLIC TRANSIT HAMPERED BY EXTREME COLD
The extreme cold had a major impact on public transit Wednesday and Thursday and despite officials hopes and best efforts, some services will not be fully back to normal for Friday's commute.
All Metra lines in service Thursday were operating on alternate schedules due to the extreme cold. Click here for the extreme weather alternate schedules for every Metra line and the most current alerts on delays. There will be no trains, inbound or outbound, after 10:40 p.m. Thursday due to Metra's Extreme Weather Schedule Modification.
Ten Metra lines - all those except for the Metra Electric Line and the South Shore Line - are expected to resume normal service Friday, Metra confirmed Thursday afternoon.
The Metra Electric Line and the South Shore Line were both suspended Wednesday. Both lines will remain suspended Friday due to damage to the overhead power system caused by a freight train derailment Wednesday night, officials said.
Metra Electric riders should consider alternate transportation including the Rock Island Line or the CTA. Visit Metra's website for more information about alternate travel options.
Officials hope to restore service to the South Shore Line between Millennium Station and Michigan City Carroll Avenue on Saturday, Feb. 2, though Saturday service is not a certainty at this time. More information about South Shore Line weekend service will be provided on Friday, according to a press release from the rail operator. Visit the South Shore Line's website for the latest information.
Amtrak resumed some long-distance train service to and from Chicago Thursday, but short-distance service remained suspended.
The CTA was under an Extreme Cold Weather Advisory on Thursday, which means riders should expect delays on rapid transit from mechanical problems on equipment and weather-related signal and switching issues.
Pace, which provides bus service to people with disabilities, canceled their subscription rides -- regularly scheduled pickups and drop offs for appointments. Riders who must travel should call Pace to reschedule their appointments for Wednesday and Thursday. Riders should also double check that their destinations are open in the extreme weather.
In Chicago, Lyft is offering free rides to warming centers using the code CHIJAYDEN19, up to $25 per ride, through Friday.
FLIGHTS CANCELED AT CHICAGO AIRPORTS
Air travel was also impacted by the extreme cold.
More than 1,700 flights were canceled at Chicago's airports Thursday. As of 9:45 p.m., 1,460 flights have been canceled at O'Hare and 239 flights canceled at Midway.
American Airlines said they are experiencing some refueling issues and other airlines may be reporting issues as well.
"It's going to be a challenging day at ORD today with the extreme temperatures," a spokesperson for American Airlines said. "Our teams are doing the best they can to get our customers accommodated as safely and quickly as possible."
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THOUSANDS LOSE POWER, HEAT IN EXTREME COLD; SHELTERS RISE TO MEET INCREASED NEED
Thousands were without power on Wednesday. ComEd said power had been restored to approximately 60,000 customers Wednesday.
Customers can text OUT to 26633 or call 1-800-EDISON (1-800-334-7661) to report an outage. Spanish-speaking customers can call 1-800-95-LUCES (1-800-955-8237).
Chicago will offer five warming buses to offer people cover from the weather. Outreach workers were working around the clock to connect homeless residents with shelter.
RELATED: Find a Chicago area warming center near you
More than 270 warming centers are available throughout the city in every neighborhood. You can find them at libraries, park houses, community centers, police stations and churches.
Contact 311 for immediate assistance. The city says no one in need of shelter or help will be turned away.
COLD WEATHER TIPS
The dangerous deep freeze can also make it difficult to keep your home warm. To avoid a loss in heat experts recommend replacing your furnace filter and keeping vents clear. Also lower blinds and close drapes.
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Before going to bed, raise your thermostat a few degrees to help offset the inevitable loss of heat. If you have a high-efficiency furnace, clear the intake and exhaust of snow and ice, which could pose a carbon monoxide danger.
How to keep pipes from freezing in cold weather
To keep your pipes from freezing, experts say to trickle your faucets. If they still freeze, never thaw pipes with an open flame. Use a hairdryer instead.
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