Heavy Snow, Cold, Wind and Ice Cause Travel Problems

Snow as deep as 12 to 16 inches has buried McHenry and Lake counties today. An arctic blast of cold is expected this evening, too, and lake-enhanced snow is moving south through Chicago, according to current weather forecasts. At times, wind speeds have reached 45 miles per hour today.

Accuweather identifies I-55, I-90 and I-94 as potential trouble spots, as well as surface roads across the entire north and western suburbs.

Temperatures are in the low 30s but wind chill makes the outside temperature feel about 14 degrees as of 2 p.m.

A band of heavy weather dropped almost 2 inches of snow on O’Hare Airport between 1 and 2 p.m.

• RELATED: Many Cancellations and Delays at Chicago Airports

According to the National Weather Service:

• moderate to occasional heavy snow will continue through mid-afternoon
• up to an inch per hour will continue to fall through about 3 p.m.
• expect periodic wind gusts throughout the day

The NWS advises that today’s snow is wet and heavy, which can cause difficulty shoveling among those with health problems. As of 8 a.m., recorded snowfall at O’Hare Airport was 7.1 inches and snowfall at Midway was 3.5 inches.

LOOKING AHEAD

• Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 29. Southwest wind around 15 mph.
• Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 26.

UPDATED SNOWFALL MEASUREMENTS, 4:45 P.M.

As provided by trained NWS spotters

• CARPENTERSVILLE (KANE): 12.2
• BATAVIA (KANE): 7.5
• MIDWAY AIRPORT: 5.8
• ALGONQUIN (MCHENRY): 13
• BUFFALO GROVE (LAKE): 11.5
• NORTHBROOK (COOK): 14.5
• GLEN ELLYN (DUPAGE): 7.1
• LEMONT (COOK): 3.5
• HAWTHORN WOODS (LAKE): 16.5
• MUNDELEIN (LAKE): 15.5
• ROMEOVILLE (WILL): 3.5
• GLENCOE (COOK): 6.6

RECORDED SNOWFALL AS OF 8 A.M.

• CAPRON (BOONE): 14.6
• BULL VALLEY (MCHENRY): 13.6
• LAKEMOOR (LAKE): 13.0
• WOODSTOCK (MCHENRY): 12.5
• LAKE VILLA (LAKE): 12.3
• GURNEE (LAKE): 11.0
• MUNDELEIN (LAKE): 10.5
• LAKE ZURICH (LAKE): 8.7
• ST. CHARLES (KANE): 7.3
• BUFFALO GROVE (LAKE): 7.0
• DOWNERS GROVE (DU PAGE): 5.1
• ELMHURST (DU PAGE): 4.7
• BATAVIA (KANE): 4.5
• GENEVA (KANE): 4.5
• PALATINE (COOK): 3.9
• NAPERVILLE (DU PAGE): 3.4
• OAK PARK (COOK): 3.0
• CRETE (WILL): 2.2
• PLAINFIELD (KENDALL): 2.0
• HOMER GLEN (WILL): 1.6
• NEW LENOX (WILL): 1.6
• HOMEWOOD (COOK) 1.5
• BOLINGBROOK (DU PAGE): 1.5
• LOCKPORT (WILL): 1.3
• JOLIET (WILL): 0.5