Chicago weather: Overnight snow could impact travel with up to 3 inches expected west of city
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Midway Airport was quiet on Saturday night.
People have been coming in and out steadily, and all flights have been on time.
"Very thankful I came back on Saturday. Yeah, it's pretty empty in here," said University of Chicago student Elijah Wakefield.
That may not be the case on Sunday with snow coming in. As the holiday travel rush continues, there is an added hurdle from Mother Nature.
The National Weather Service is alerting drivers to expect that travel times will be impacted by a snowstorm that could drop up to 2 inches of powder on the city starting early Sunday. The highest rate of snowfall expected between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m.
The Chicago area could see between 1 and 2 inches of snow, while areas in the northwest part of the start could see as much as 3 inches of snow, the NWS said.
Illinois counties west of the city, McHenry, Kane, Kendall, LaSalle and DuPage, are under a Winter Weather Advisory from 1 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, ABC7 Meteorologist Mark McGinnis said.
Snow rates will diminish as the day progresses, leading to improved travel conditions, but traffic Sunday morning could be impacted by slippery, slushy conditions.
AAA is expecting the roads and airports to be packed on Sunday as people return from their Thanksgiving destinations. They said a record number of Illinoisans hopped on flights this week.
"Two-hundred-and-twenty-nine thousand people did fly, and that's 22,000 more than last year, so the airports are going to be busy as well," said AAA spokesperson Molly Hart.
If you're driving home, Hart said, it's critical to make sure you have safety kits in your car with blankets, water and kitty litter, just in case you get trapped in any snow. The time you hit the road will be important too.
"We really encourage you to leave before noon, and we've been saying that even before the snow coming. We also want you to avoid the 3 to 5 p.m. hours, because that's when it's going to be really congested," Hart said.
AAA said the I-94 between Chicago and Wisconsin will likely be the busiest expressway. It's safe to say you'll need some extra time when planning out your trip on Sunday.
Air travelers ABC7 talked to on Saturday are breathing a sigh of relief.
"Everything went smooth. Not a lot of people. Out of customs and stuff, so it was just a smooth process for me," said Guitar Pisitkun, who traveled from Texas.
Some people said they've figured out the perfect way to handle traveling during the holidays.
"I like to travel on Tuesday and Saturday, so Wednesday and Sunday just wasn't working, and probably still won't for the people tomorrow because of the snow in the forecast," said Pam Rose, who is visiting family in Chicago.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
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