Chicago snow accumulation today causes hazardous road conditions, O’Hare flight delays; more snow in Chicago weather forecast
CHICAGO (WLS) — Overnight Chicago-area snowfall created hazardous road conditions and is causing delays at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on Sunday.
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Snow started to fall in the area between 9 p.m. Saturday and midnight before stopping, from west to east, between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. Sunday, ABC7 Chicago AccuWeather Meteorologist Jaisol Martinez said.
By 8:15 a.m., snow had stopped in most areas along and north of Interstate 80, Martinez said. The last burst of snow in the Chicago area was moving along I-80, from around Joliet to around Gary, at the same time.
Between 2 and 4 inches of snow accumulation is expected for most areas, with some isolated higher totals north of Interstate 80.
Rain mixing into snow will impact totals for Kankakee, southern Will, Grundy and southern LaSalle counties.
Snow totals as of 6 a.m. Sunday
- Wadsworth: 5 inches
- Batavia: 4.1 inches
- O’Hare: 4 inches
- Midway: 3.6 inches
- Homer Glen: 1.8 inches
- Romeoville: 1.7 inches
All Chicago-area Winter Weather Advisory alerts from the National Weather Service have expired as of 11 a.m.
Martinez said Sunday morning is the best time to shovel your driveway, as temperatures are expected to drop significantly in the afternoon hours.
Lake-effect snow could set up in the evening hours, dropping another inch of snow in parts of Illinois, but it is expected to move out of the area fairly quickly. Martinez said.
Snow creates hazardous driving conditions, disrupts public transportation
ABC7 meteorologists issued an AccuWeather Alert for Sunday morning, as roads became slick and snow-covered.
Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications encouraged drivers to slow down and use caution.
“DSS will activate a Phase II snow program overnight. More than 220 salt spreaders will be out citywide,” the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation said in a statement. “Crews will monitor arterial streets, DLSD, bridges, and overpasses to ensure roads are safe and passable for emergency vehicles, public transportation and other travelers.”
While driving through the area in ABC7’s Storm Tracker early Sunday morning, our crew witnessed multiple traffic incidents.
Illinois State Police were seen trying to help a driver whose car had apparently spun out from the roadway and into a bank on the city’s Far South Side.
Another vehicle was seen speeding before side-swiping a car in front of Strom Tracker.
Be sure give plows plenty of space as they work to clear area roads.
Around 9:15 a.m., the CTA said bus services were temporarily rerouted off of DuSable Lake Shore Drive due to severe weather conditions.
No buses were running between Outer Lake Shore Drive, Hollywood and 67th Street.
The CTA said disrupted routes may experience major delays from congestion as buses approach the area and return back in the other direction. The CTA encouraged riders to consider using L trains as an alternative.
Winter weather causes O’Hare delays, flight cancellations
The snowfall is also impacting air travel.
There was a ground stop at O’Hare due to snow or ice from 7:53 a.m. to 9:15 a.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration’s website.
The FAA site says there is also a ground delay at O’Hare due to snow or ice from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, with delays averaging 158 minutes.
The city’s FlyChicago website says 236 flights have been canceled at O’Hare as of 1:17 p.m. Sunday.
Two flights have been canceled at Chicago Midway International Airport, where delays are averaging under 15 minutes.
How does this winter’s snowfall compare to previous years, so far?
According to the NWS, 17.1 inches of snow have fallen since the beginning of the snowfall season.
This is the quickest start to winter since 1978, when 24.1 inches of snow fell by 12/7.
This is also the fifth most snowfall on record between July 1 and Dec. 7. The records are 24.1 inches (1978), 18.3 inches (1950), 17.6 inches (1940) and 17.2 inches (1978).
With 17.1 inches, Chicago has already picked up almost the entire amount of snow that fell last winter (17.6 inches in 2024-2025).
The 30-year average annual snowfall for Chicago is 38.4 inches.
What’s next
More snow is in the forecast for this week before temperatures take a drastic dip on Saturday.
Light snow is forecast for Monday night.
Tuesday’s forecast includes a light morning mix.
Rain to snow is expected Wednesday.
Snow showers are forecast for Thursday.
Friday could see some PM snow.
Click here for the latest seven-day forecast.
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