Fresh Snow Keeps Plows Busy All Night, Stalls Morning Commute
Updated 02/26/15 - 12:05 p.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Snow-covered roads made for a very slick commute across the Chicago area Thursday morning, after 2 to 8 inches of snow fell in Chicagoland overnight. Lake-effect snow was still falling in some neighborhoods late Thursday morning.
One spotter measured 8 inches of snow on the West Side of the city at 9:30 a.m. The city's official total at O'Hare International Airport was 5.7 inches as of noon.
Midway International Airport had 5.8 inches by 11:20 a.m.
Homewood had 7.1 inches by 7 a.m.; while South Holland had 7 inches, Park Forest and Worth had 6 inches, Chicago Ridge had 5 inches, and Gurnee had inches all by the same time of day.
The National Weather Service issued a Lake Effect Snow Warning for four counties in the Chicago area – Lake and Cook in Illinois, and Lake and Porter in Indiana. The warning expires at 3 p.m. in Lake County, Illinois, at 6 p.m. in Cook, at 9 p.m. in Lake County, Indiana, and at 6 a.m. Friday in Porter.
The National Weather Service said there was a potential for heavy snow along a narrow band across Cook County until early Thursday, before shifting more into northwest Indiana. The system could add 1 to 3 inches on top of the 4 to 8 inches that had already fallen by late Thursday morning.
Chicago deployed more than 320 snow plows and salt spreaders on city streets starting Wednesday night, focusing on Lake Shore Drive and other arterial roadways to keep traffic moving during the morning commute, and moving on to the side streets by late Thursday morning.
"Safety is the City's top priority, and motorists are urged to be patient when driving during inclement weather, to be cautious and drive according to conditions," the Department of Streets and Sanitation said in a news release.
Illinois Department of Transportation spokeswoman Carson Quinn said the state has deployed a full fleet of 360 trucks to clear Chicago area highways and tollways.
"We've had them out since 2 p.m. yesterday afternoon," she said. "We've got plenty of salt. The equipment is in good shape, but it's going to take some time to get to where you're going this morning, so it's important to be aware of that, and built that time into your travel schedule."
Park Ridge resident Joanne Rosy said she was surprised how much snow they had, after getting a head start on clearing the snow on her driveway and sidewalk before her husband came out with the snowblower. She tried to find a silver lining in all the work.
"A real good work out, actually; it's good for the abs," she said.
Park Ridge residents were not expecting such a tough workout this late into winter, though.
"I thought we had escaped for the winter. I thought we were done," Jim Alviti said. "I'm afraid to turn that TV on every night to see that weather report, because then you know you're going to get zapped with something."
Once you've finished clearing the snow where you live, keep the shovel or snowblower handy. More snow is in the forecast on Sunday.