First big snow of season hits Chicago area; winter weather advisory issued, storm warning extended

Snow falls Tuesday afternoon in west suburban St. Charles. About 6 inches was measured in west suburban Downers Grove at 3:30 p.m. (Kade Heather/Sun-Times)

More snowfall was forecast across the Chicago area into early Wednesday, and dropping temperatures and increased winds were expected to create snow drifts and possibly hazardous road conditions.

A winter weather advisory, which is issued for snowfall totals around 3 to 5 inches, was extended until 4 a.m. in Cook, DuPage, Will and other southern counties. A winter storm warning, generally issued for 6 or more inches of snow, also was in effect until 4 a.m. in Lake, Kane, McHenry, DeKalb and other western counties, according to the National Weather Service.

“Our winds will be increasing from the northwest,” NWS meteorologist Mark Ratzer told the Sun-Times, saying wind gusts could reach 45 mph overnight.

Much of the area’s snowfall from earlier Tuesday was wet and heavy as temperatures hovered near the freezing point, Ratzer said, but “the snow should become less wet as our temperatures start to fall, and it will be a little bit more susceptible to blowing around.”

About 1 to 3 inches of additional snow could accumulate overnight. The NWS also warned of possible flash-freeze conditions and black ice.

Nearly 4 inches of snow was measured at Midway International Airport at 6 p.m. More than 3 inches had accumulated from the storm at O’Hare International Airport, where a full ground stop was in place for about an hour Tuesday afternoon.

As of 7:50 p.m., 199 flights were canceled at O’Hare, and that number could continue to climb if weather conditions do not improve. Forty-two flights were canceled at Midway due to weather, according to the FAA.

The weather delays come after Alaska Airlines and United Airlines have grounded their fleet of Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft in the wake of a door blowing off an Alaska flight last week out of Portland, Ore. Both airlines reported finding loose bolts and other hardware in other panels in later examinations.

Early forecasts called for up to 6 inches of snow in Chicago, but most of it turned to rain Tuesday morning.

Groups of people using umbrellas to shield themselves from rain and snow walk along North Wabash Avenue, in the Loop, as Chicago and surrounding communities are under a winter weather advisory on. Tuesday. (Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times)

Most of the snow settled in the northern and western suburbs. About 6 inches was measured in Downers Grove as of 3:30 p.m., the NWS said, as snow continued to fall throughout the night.

In west suburban St. Charles, Victor Vogel took his 15-year-old son sledding, as he has done with his kids about every year when it snows.

“I like the four seasons,” said Vogel, who for almost 30 years has lived a few blocks from Langum Park — a popular sledding spot along the Fox River.

“This is one of the busier years for sledding; it’s like mayhem this year,” Vogel, 58, said. “Last year it was about half this. We only went out once last year and two or three times the previous year, but you could see grass and it just wasn’t conducive to really good sledding.”

Snow continued to fall Tuesday afternoon in west suburban Geneva. Authorities warn residents to watch for fallen tree branches and power lines. (Kade Heather/Sun-Times)

Roads in the far northern and western suburbs were mostly covered by snow and ice Tuesday night, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. In Chicago and most southern suburbs, roads were partly covered.

The Illinois Tollway deployed all of its 196 snowplows across 12 counties in northern Illinois.

“Obviously, where the roads are being treated they shouldn’t be real bad, but as you get farther out to the west, especially west of Kane County, they are showing some areas where the road conditions have deteriorated,” said Ratzer, the meteorologist.

Vogel said he hopes to bring his son back to sled a few more times this year. He’s eyeing Friday as a possible return.

Snowfall is forecast in the area again later in the week, likely Wednesday night through Saturday. Chances decrease Sunday, but it’s still possible the area could see flurries.

“This is awesome,” Vogel said. “Last year I didn’t even take out my snow blower.”

Temperatures are likely to plummet by the beginning of next week, with forecasts predicting single-digit and below-zero temps by Sunday night.

Travel tips to keep safe during cold, snowy weather:

• Charge your cell phone before leaving
• Be sure tires are properly inflated
• Keep your gas tank at least half full
• Keep a cold weather safety kit in your car, including gloves, boots, blankets, water, flashlight with fresh batteries and road flares
• If in need of assistance, turn on emergency lights and stay in vehicle until help arrives
• Call *999 for roadway assistance

A road in west suburban Geneva was mostly covered by snow and ice Tuesday afternoon. (Kade Heather/Sun-Times)

Pedestrians cross the DuSable Bridge in the Streeterville neighborhood, as Chicago and surrounding communities are under a winter weather advisory on Tuesday. (Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times)

Freezing rain fell across most of the city on Tuesday, and heavy snow blanketed the western suburbs. (Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times)

Dozens of people took advantage of Tuesday’s snowfall to go sledding at Langum Park in St. Charles. “This is one of the busier years for sledding; it’s like mayhem this year,” Victor Vogel said. (Kade Heather/Sun-Times)

Nearly 6 inches of snow had fallen by Tuesday afternoon in west suburban St. Charles. Both O’Hare and Midway airports issued ground stops, halting flights heading to Chicago at their point of origin. (Kade Heather/Sun-Times)