Chicago Weather Live Radar: Up to 14 inches of snow expected Tuesday, higher lake effect totals

CHICAGO (WLS) – Another round of winter weather conditions hit Chicago on Monday and will cause more than a foot of thick lake-like snow to fall in places. Some areas may be able to see 14 inches or more by the time this is all done.

The day started with a very intense swath of snow draped across northern Cook County, according to ABC7 meteorologist Cheryl Scott.

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The highest snow totals are expected in Chicago and Cook County, as well as areas along Lake Michigan, Scott said. Many areas had already seen a 4 to 6 inch drop by mid-afternoon on Monday.

The heaviest snow is expected to fall between 6 p.m. and midnight, as a winter storm system from Texas swept through the area on Monday evening.

At 10 p.m., Valparaiso had picked up 13.3 inches of snow, followed by Midway with 11.9 inches, Oak Park with 11 inches, Harwood Heights with 8.8 inches and 8.5 inches in Oak Lawn.

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From midnight to Tuesday morning, the snow in the system will begin to decrease but the lake effect snow will continue. Finally, the snow lake effect will begin to gradually end between 9 a.m. and noon on Tuesday.

A winter storm warning continues through noon Tuesday for Cook and Lake counties (IL). Other regional advisories and advisories end at 9:00 a.m. Wind chills will remain below zero all day Monday.

Heavy snow and freezing cold create dangerous driving conditions

Heavy snow, gusts of wind and freezing temperatures created dangerous driving conditions on surface roads and highways.

Illinois State Police said as of 8:15 p.m. Monday, they had responded to 135 different accidents in the Chicago area and assisted about 60 drivers since midnight.

“The biggest problem was when it started to snow heavily and everyone was moving very slowly, I couldn’t keep the snow on my windshield,” said driver Steve Martin.

The city of Chicago has deployed more than 300 snowmobiles and asked drivers to slow down in dangerous conditions. And with all the snow we’ve had recently, the city said it has plans in place, if necessary, to dump that snow in designated areas to remove these piles from neighborhoods.

“The focus will be mostly on the arteries, so those of you on residential streets just be patient,” said Mayor Lori Lightfoot. “This is a very convenient time and we are ready to keep our city running even in these extreme weather circumstances.

The snow fell so badly that all the plows could do is make room for more snow.

“We have over 3 feet of snow and when it falls in clusters it makes it very difficult,” said Doug Halverson, a plow operator with Arctic Snow and Ice.

Reported Whiteout Conditions Along Chicago’s Lakeside

In Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood, the wind swept across the lake along Sheridan Road, creating conditions of heavy blowing snow.

A few blocks west of the lake, it’s a whole different story – the winds are much calmer and there is hardly any snow. The snow caught it off guard.

“I just got out of the ‘burbs’, and the ‘burbs’ there was nothing,” said Courtney Podczerwinski. “And then you come here by the lake, and it’s completely crazy.”

Gas line fire shoots flames into the sky in Highland Park

The lakefront snow patch dropped several inches of snow along Chicago’s north coast on Monday afternoon. At 6 p.m. Evanston reported 8 inches of snow had fallen. At one point, Wilmette saw 2.6 inches of snow fall in an hour.

In Highland Park, flames shot into the sky over Green Bay Road where the city said a contractor tore the gas line with a Bobcat. Highland Park officials said ComEd was working with North Shore Gas to fix the line.

Evanston sounded his tornado sirens to warn people to remove their cars from main roads for a parking ban on the snow road, and the residents of Niles received a voicemail and text message warning people that the worst of the storm was about to happen.

Lake effect snow accumulates in northwest Indiana

Heavy snowfall also hit northwest Indiana, where whiteout conditions were seen at Marquette Park Beach in Gary.

The Indiana Department of Transportation deployed 1,100 plow trucks on the roads Monday evening.

Students at Gary’s public schools were asked to stay home on Tuesday. It was supposed to be their first day back to school since last March – but now they’ll have to wait until Thursday.

Several vaccination sites in Cook County will be closed on Tuesday February 16 due to the winter storm, officials said. Vaccinations will continue at Stroger Hospital, Provident Hospital and the Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center, but all other sites, including large-scale sites, will be closed.

Officials said anyone already scheduled for a date will be contacted and rescheduled for another appointment this week.

COVID-19 mobile testing sites were closed on Monday due to extreme cold; however, community testing sites remained open.

According to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office, there have been more than half a dozen hypothermia-related deaths so far this winter season. Frostbite and weather-related injuries are also increasing.

To locate a nearby warming center, residents can call city departments at 311 or visit 311.chicago.gov.

The city also has dozens of other places people can seek refuge during the day, including the Chicago Cultural Center, public libraries, Park District offices, and local police departments.

The city is also asking people to shovel and salt in front of their homes and businesses and to check on neighbors. The city also urged people not to shovel snow from rooftops as it is a great way to injure themselves. Officials say if your home is heated properly, some of that snow will melt.

Fire officials are also reminding people to make sure their smoke detectors are working – citing a recent outbreak of deadly fires and reminding them not to use stoves to heat and to keep radiators at least three feet away. of any combustible element.