Highland Park, Deerfield Snowfall Totals, City Makes Garages Free

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Public works crews across Highland Park, Highwood, Deerfield and Bannockburn have been working for nearly a 24 hours to keep roads clear, as residents appear to be heeding advice from authorities to stay off the street. Closures of most area schools Friday also helped reduce the number of vehicles on the road.

Local officials said snow removal operations will continue until all streets are passable and all parking areas have been cleared.

According to the National Weather Service's snowfall reports, Northbrook reported the deepest snow in the north suburbs with 8.4 inches, while as much as 9 inches of accumulation was reported in Kenosha County.

Although its winter storm warning has expired, the North Shore may yet get a bit more snow before the storm is over.

Other nearby Lake County suburbs to report snowfall totals included:

• Buffalo Grove 6.5 inches at 10:15 a.m.
• Deerfield, 6.4 inches at 8 a.m.
• Lake Zurich, 6 inches at 7 a.m.
• Riverwoods, 5.5 inches at 7 a.m.
• Mundelein, 5.5 inches at 7 a.m.
• Highwood, 5 inches at 6 a.m.
• Gurnee, 5 inches at 6:23 a.m.

» Updated Snowfall Totals As Illinois Winter Storm Continues

Residents were asked to move cars and refuse containers off of streets to allow for full snow removal operations to take place.

And if you can clear snow away from fire hydrants, it may help save valuable time in an emergency.

»Winter Storm: More Than 800 Flights Cancelled At O'Hare, Midway

Lakeshore Recycling Systems collection has been delayed by the storm. If your normal pickup was scheduled for Friday, make sure to leave your recycling containers on the curb Saturday. For more information, contact LRS at 773-685-8811.

» Snowstorm Safety: Tips For Shoveling, What To Pack In Your Car

All three downtown Highland Park parking garages will be opened for free parking through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday night, city officials announced.

Garages are located at:

• Port Clinton Square - 601 Laurel Ave.
• East Underground Parking Structure - 1790 St. Johns Ave.
• West Underground Parking Structure - 1785 First St.

Highland Park police said there have been no significant weather-related incidents or even disabled vehicles on the road since crews began plowing Thursday night, Pioneer Press reported.

The city expected that it will take up to 48 hours for contractors to plow its 130 miles of sidewalks when the snow stops falling Saturday.

And in Deerfield, parking is forbidden on street for 24 hours after a snowfall of 3 or more inches. Deerfield police also reported no major problems as a result of the snowfall.

» More information about snow operations in Deerfield

Snow reminders from the City of Highland Park:

• Please do not pass or follow a City plow truck too closely.
• Take your time and exercise caution while driving in the snow.
• City sidewalk plowing contractors are scheduled to start at the end of snowstorm, late Saturday. To plow 130 miles of sidewalk will take 24-48 hours. Please understand the driveways that have been plowed will have snow deposited along the sidewalks after the sidewalk plow contractor goes through the property. The additional deposited snow clearing is the responsibility of the resident.
• Street corners and business districts will have snow deposits along sidewalks, parking lots, and intersections. Public Works staff will work with a contractor on removing excess snow deposits in Downtown. Please be patient as snow removal operations are ongoing.
• Damage to private property can be reported on the City website at www.cityhpil.com/service or call Public Works during business hours at 847.432.0807.

» More information about Highland Park's snow removal policies