RADAR: Follow the winter storm with LIVE Doppler7 MAX
Snow spread in northern Illinois late Tuesday afternoon and quickly accumulated in the suburbs as snow fell at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour in some areas.
As of 9pm, Carol Stream reported 4.5 inches, Elburn 4.2 inches, Aurora 3.6 inches, Naperville 3.5 inches, Romeoville 3.2 inches, and Elk Grove Village 3 inches.
WATCH: Latest ABC7 AccuWeather forecast
The heaviest accumulations will be in the northwestern suburbs, where some parts of McHenry and DeKalb counties can see as much as 20 inches of snow.
Snowfall in excess of 4 inches may be north of Interstate 88, but only about 1 to 3 inches is expected in the southern suburbs and northwest Indiana.
STORM TIMELINE:
Between 9:00 PM and 3:00 AM, the snow began to mix with sleet and sleet. Ice buildup of up to two-tenths of an inch is also possible just inland away from the shores of Lake Michigan.
After 4 a.m., precipitation in much of the area changed in all rain as the temperature rose above freezing.
A total accumulation of snow and sleet of 1 to 4 inches is expected, with the highest snowfall amounts along I-88 and north. Areas in the city could see about two inches of snow.
A Winter storm warning is effective until 9:00 a.m. Wednesday for Boone, Northern Cook, De Kalb, Lake, Lee, Kane, McHenry, Ogle and Winnebago counties in Illinois and Walworth County in Wisconsin.
A Winter weather advice is in effect until 9:00 am Wednesday for Central Cook; DuPage; Kendall; La Salle; Northern Will and Southern Cook counties.
A Winter weather advice is effective until 6:00 AM Wednesdays for Eastern Will, Grundy, Kankakee, Livingston, Southern Will in Illinois and Lake and Porter counties in Indiana.
WATCH: Snow plows hit roads when conditions deteriorate rapidly
The first major snowfall of winter left a trail of crumpled metal as spin-outs and crashes littered with suburban roads. The snow arrived earlier than evening rush hour, with the north and northwestern suburbs in the bull’s eye.
“I’ve already seen four or five, Eric, how nice when people hit the barrier and all that”, said driver Marc Groen. “A few have ruined cars.”
In Lake and McHenry counties, high winds created near-white conditions. At one point, traffic came to a halt near Gurnee.
On the 5300 block of South Hyde Park Boulevard on Chicago’s south side, a CTA bus slid into a parked car, officials said.
At the Hinsdale Oasis off Interstate 294, heavy snowfall caused many truck drivers to stop and wait for the storm.
“I’m going to sit tight tonight. I’ll park for the night,” said truck driver Bruce Brooks. “I’ll let them do what they have to do tonight. Salt the roads, plow and do what they have to do, and I’ll try again tomorrow morning. ‘
The Illinois Tollway has tried to keep up with its entire fleet of nearly 200 snow plows, but it’s a tough job. Drivers are reminded to drive slowly and, if possible, stay off the road during the height of the storm.
Illinois state police have apparently been inundated with so many phone calls that they are asking drivers involved in an accident without injuries to exchange information with the other driver and file a report at a later date.
The roads and sidewalks remained slippery until Wednesday morning, while the icy rain continued to cover the ground.
A snow plow crashed into the wall of a Midway airfield at around 3:20 AM. The driver was taken to Holy Cross Hospital with minor injuries, Chicago police said.
Drivers should schedule extra time on their morning rides.
Wednesday morning’s rain isn’t expected to melt all the snow, but it should help the roads, said ABC 7 Chicago meteorologist Greg Dutra.
WATCH: Barrington deploys squads as northwestern suburbs bracing for heavy snow
Road crews in Barrington have already been deployed to salt and clean the streets with an emphasis on the main thoroughfares of the village. Barrington has approximately 12 trucks in its fleet.
Public Works Director Jeremie Lukowicz said their crew was ready for this months ago.
“Even before winter sets in – in October, November – we start checking all of our machines to make sure everything is ready to be deployed,” said Lukowicz. “If this happens overnight, hopefully we can get everything clean before they have to go out the next morning.”
Considering we are in a pandemic, Lukowicz said they require every crew member to clear their area before and after getting into their truck. In addition, the trucks are also cleaned in between.
WATCH: Chicago is seeing the first significant snowfall of the season
Chicago’s Department of Streets and Sanitation deployed 287 snow vehicles to respond to snow Tuesday evening and morning. Salt spreaders will focus on keeping the city and Lake Shore Drive highways passable until the snow stops.
Some power outages may be due to the combined effects of sleet accumulation, some icing and gusts of wind up to 30 mph.
WATCH: Icy conditions take the cyclist down on the Lake Chicago trail
O’Hare and Midway airports suffered only minor delays due to the storm.
Another winter storm is expected on Thursday and Friday, Dutra said. It will likely arrive after midnight on Friday, with a winter mix turning to rain.
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