Roads across Illinois were slippery and slippery Monday morning as a major winter storm moved through parts of the Midwest, with snow, freezing drizzle and ice affecting parts of travel in the Chicago area.
At Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, a ground stop was in effect until 7:45 a.m. due to snow and ice, with delays averaging 48 minutes, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
According to the website flychicago.com, 93 flights were canceled as of 6:45 a.m.
In Lake, Cook and DuPage counties, a winter weather advisory was in effect until 4 p.m., with potentially hazardous travel conditions through the evening rush hour.
In a post on X, the former platform known as Twitter, the National Weather Service warned of icy roads.
“Be prepared for varying road conditions, allow extra travel time, and increase the following distance,” the NWS said.
ATTENTION ! Everything that isn’t treated is covered in a layer of ice this morning in the Chicago metro area due to freezing drizzle and haze! Use caution when going out (sidewalks, driveways, parking lots and secondary roads). #ILwx #INwx https://t.co/QkpgBosdYC
– NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) January 6, 2025
And while some areas were experiencing patchy freezing drizzle Monday morning, others were getting lake-effect snow, with more expected to fall in Lake County in Illinois and Kenosha County in Wisconsin.
According to Roman, the plume could intensify at times Monday morning.
“During lake effect, weather can vary from bands of locally heavy snow to dry weather just a few miles away,” the NWS warned. “Visibilities can also vary significantly. Be prepared for rapid changes in weather, visibility and road conditions.”
According to NBC 5 Traffic reporter Kye Martin, some parts were already experiencing skids and crashes due to winter conditions, including in the departure lanes of I-290 in Austin, in the northbound and southbound lanes of I- 294 in Golf, and on western suburban roads.
“Roads, especially overpasses and overpasses, will likely become slippery and dangerous,” the NWS added. “Expect slippery roads. »
Illinois Road Conditions
Roads in northern Illinois were experiencing blowing snow and areas of icing, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation’s winter road conditions map. In central and southern Illinois, where state police adopted a snow emergency plan, roads appeared covered in ice and snow.
“Gusty winds will cause blowing and drifting snow and may contribute to whiteout conditions in open and rural areas,” the NWS in Lincoln, Illinois, said in a report Tuesday morning.
Updated 4:00 a.m.: Snow continues across central Illinois, primarily south of Peoria. The snow will gradually decrease from the northwest to the southeast. Gusty winds bringing blowing and drifting snow to open and rural areas. #ilwx pic.twitter.com/OzPpxrkdmY
– NWS Lincoln IL (@NWSLincolnIL) January 6, 2025
By Monday afternoon, snow was expected to mainly affect central and southern Cook County, Roman said, before moving into northwest Indiana in the evening.
By Monday evening, snow is expected to reach Lake and Porter counties in Indiana, Roman said.
How much snow could we get?
Snow could reach up to four inches in some areas, Roman said.
“We’ve already had a few inches of snow in Lake County,” Roman said, noting that between two and three inches of additional snow could fall.
Most other areas will see between two and four inches, Roman said.
Conditions Tuesday are expected to be mostly dry, Roman said, with the next best chance of snow Friday.
Cold temperatures are expected to persist, Roman added, with highs in the 20s on Monday and throughout the week.
NBC Chicago