Chicago weather forecast: Storm brings snow, high winds to area
Area saw 1-4 inches of snow
CHICAGO (WLS) -- The Chicago area saw 1 to 4 inches of snow Thursday, as the first winter storm of the season made its way through.
Accumulating snow ended about 2 p.m., but some areas still saw flurries after that.
As quickly as the snow came, it went away, due in part to the work of plow trucks, and to the rising temperatures.
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Most parts of the area got 1 to 3 inches of snow, but some got 4 inches.
Rain is following the snow, as temperatures warm.
The Chicago area saw its first snow flurries overnight, with more snowfall moving through Thursday.
A Winter Weather Advisory for parts of the Chicago area has expired.
See the latest AccuWeather report
The National Weather Service said winds will increase in the afternoon after the bulk of the snowfall.
Snow totals as of 6 p.m. Thursday:
Evanston: 4.2"
Edgewater: 4.0"
West Ridge: 4.0"
Wauconda: 4.0"
Bull Valley: 3.9"
Lake Bluff: 3.7"
Garfield Park: 3.6"
Gurnee: 3.5"
Moneka: 3.0"
Norwood Park: 3.0"
Portage: 3.0"
Carol Stream: 3.0"
Crystal Lake: 2.9"
O'Hare: 2.9"
Homewood: 2.5"
Ogden Dunes: 2.5"
Naperville: 2.1"
Ground delays were in effect at O'Hare and Midway airports Thursday morning.
As of about 9 p.m. Thursday, O'Hare had delays of about 21 minutes, and Midway had 17-minute delays.
Over 110 flights were canceled at O'Hare and 22 were canceled at Midway.
As of 6 p.m., at least 1,004 customers were without power in northern Illinois, ComEd said. At least 4,258 customers were without power in Northwest Indiana, NIPSCO said.
Before the above-freezing temperatures melted much of the snow the work of shovelers and plow truck drivers helped to clear the one-to-four inches of snow that fell, from the city to the suburbs.
Snowing in the city
It's finally starting to look and feel like winter as Chicago got its first measurable snow of the year.
The Department of Streets and Sanitation has deployed salt spreaders, and will continue to work through the day, focusing on arterial streets and DuSable Lake Shore Drive.
As rain began to wash away Thursday's snowfall, slushy streets turned into puddled paths.
"I'm glad it's over with," Chicago driver Sheena Baskerville said. "I don't want it any time soon. Wait until February."
Motorists were advised to use caution while driving, and allow for extra time to drive, leaving space between cars.
"It's not easy right now driving because its slipping and everything like that," cab driver Suridne Dia said. "I'm thinking about right now taking it easy and go home and come back this afternoon."
Forecasters said Thursday's wintry blast followed one of the top 10 warmest fall on record in Chicago.
"The first time I came here was in the spring, not in this weather," said Diego Paraud, who is visiting from Chile. "It was much different. I think it's much attractive, this weather for me."
Still, some like Little Rock, Arkansas native Diana New, who's in town for a conference, is not enjoying our weather. However, her husband Byron embraced the conditions by venturing out in a baseball cap, hoodie and shorts with no gloves.
"I love the cold weather," he said. "We thought it was a possibility before we came down here. I really didn't believe it."
And while a few signs of warmer days remain, many like Uber driver Michell Shannon are taking it all in stride.
"I'm going to schedule rides and everything, cause I got to do what I got to do," Shannon said.
The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink at Millennium Park was closed Thursday due to the storm.
Suburban snowfall
The first snowfall of the season caught many people off guard, including some drivers who had problems on the slick roads, which led to a two-car crash in Carpentersville.
The snow was still coming down Thursday afternoon as the plow truck drivers in Algonquin worked to clear the roads. It is the first time they've been out this season, and they were ready for it.
"The guys are looking forward to it. Another season of overtime," Algonquin General Services Supt. Vince Kilcullen said.
With warmer temperatures expected to melt much of thw snow quickly, they are using salt sparingly. They have plenty of salt on hand, including much of last year's supply which was not needed due to the mild winter.
Area hardware stores are now stocking up on weather necessities and preparing customers in case another wintry wallop makes an autumn appearance.
"When that weather switches over, we've already got snow blowers stocked, your salt, your shovels," said Cortney Hausser, Director of Marketing at Hortons Ace Hardware in LaGrange. "We're here to help our community,"
Of course it's been unseasonably warm for the last month or so this year, which is why some people were stocking up on salt and shovels and other winter gear at the Barrington Ace Hardware.
"I'm new to the area, I don't have a shovel yet, so it looks like a good time to buy one," customer Michelle Scandroli said.
"We had to drag all the shovels and scrapers and brushes out and get em on the wall as quick as possible," said Ray Witczak with Ace Hardware.
The snow fell hard throughout the northern suburbs all morning. In Richmond on the Wisconsin border, they broke out the shovels to clear driveways.
But for many, the first snowfall of the season is fun. Algonquin resident Jennifer Thomas let her dog Bailey frolic in the white stuff.
"Looked up and was like, gotta bring her out and let her play and have a little bit of fun in the snow," Thomas said.
Slippery morning commute
The icy conditions made for a chaotic morning commute.
Downtown commuters braved the cold Thursday morning as they were hit with the first snow of the season.
Commuter Andrew Luchs said he was not ready for the snow.
"It's pretty cold," he said.
"I saw it was going to flurry, but not the wind, not the snow," commuter Maggie Nance said.
Some came prepared.
"I had my hats and my gloves and my wool pants and sweaters and everything ready and I'm toasty," Dory Reed said.
Others were not.
"It's really cold yeah," commuter Sam King said. "I forgot my gloves; so, that's on me, but I just gotta get used to it now that time of the year."
Commuters walking to work took it easy on the slick sidewalks and wet pavement.
"I'm walking slowly, but I have good boots with grips; so, I think I'll be safe," Reed said.
"It's like, winter is back, you know, got love it," Luchs said.
The city says it will adjust resources, as needed.
Before winter officially begins, Lake Forest's Market Square was transformed into a winter wonderland.
"I love it," Lake Forest resident Jim Stebbins said. "Love the snow, I love the changes. I say bring it on."
"I am super excited," Emily Gomez, who works in Lake Forest, said. "I love it. I am a January baby; so, I'm really excited. I think it kind of kicks the season into gear."
Snow fell in sheets, coating cars, roadways and plants.
Lake Forest's Emily Lauridsen bundled up her 2-year-old daughter for the winter weather.
"It was a bit of a surprise," Lauridsen said. "I went for a walk early this morning and I thought this was like nothing. We just dropped off our middle child at preschool and I thought this is a little more serious."
In a matter of minutes, interstates were blanketed in blowing snow and slush, leading to hazardous conditions on the roadways.
Illinois Department of Transportation trucks were trying to stay ahead of the frigid, wet weather.
"Really kind of surprised," Lake Forest resident Lou Milicich said. "We've been spoiled the last two months; it's been phenomenal weather, and, all of a sudden, snow is here."
"This is like, you know what? Let's enjoy the snow today," Jeannette Acevede, who is visiting from Florida, said.
Acevede is in town for her daughter's graduation from Naval Station Great Lakes and said the snow is a welcome surprise, if just for the morning.
"It is beautiful," she said. "You don't get to experience this every day. So for us, it's perfect."
