A winter storm warning remained in effect in the Chicago area early Tuesday, while a major snow storm continued to cover parts of the region, creating extremely dangerous conditions.
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for Kankakee, Kendall, Will, Grundy, Livingston, and DuPage counties in Illinois, along with Lake, Newton and Jasper counties in northwest Indiana, which began Sunday evening and will remain in effect until Tuesday 9:00 am.
Winter weather advisories are in effect in LaSalle, Kane, McHenry and DeKalb counties until 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, according to the NWS, while Cook County and Lake County in Illinois remain under a winter storm warning until noon.
When a snowstorm started in the Chicago area on Monday, city officials deployed more than 300 plows and salt spreaders with the goal of keeping roads clean and helping people stay safe. Kate Chappell of NBC 5 reports.
The NWS urged residents of Illinois to be extremely careful when traveling Monday night, predicting that the winter storm braving the region would reach a “peak in intensity” in the late evening hours.
The storm, which has already dumped more than a foot of snow on some parts of the area, will linger in the area through Tuesday morning.
Lake and Cook counties are expected to take the brunt of the storm, with lake-effect snow contributing to locally higher snowfall totals. According to the NWS, there are still several inches of snow possible before the storm leaves the area, with the highest totals expected within five to 10 miles of Lake Michigan.
As early as Chicago’s Midway Airport, 38 inches of snow has fallen, while 13 inches was reported in Oak Lawn in the southern suburbs and 12 inches in Harwood Heights.
More snow in combination with stormy winds ensures persistent poor visibility on roads during Tuesday’s morning ride.
Additional snowfall of several inches is expected, with the highest accumulation along and east of Interstate 57.
Brant Miller