The day began with a very heavy snow band draped over northern Cook County, according to ABC7 meteorologist Cheryl Scott.
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Higher snow levels are expected in Chicago and Cook County, as well as in areas of Lake Michigan, Scott said. Many areas had already seen it drop 4 to 6 inches by Monday to mid-afternoon.
The heaviest snow was expected to fall between 6pm and midnight, as a winter storm system from Texas spread to the area on Monday evening.
By 10 p.m., Valparaiso had collected 13.3 inches of snow, followed by 11.9-inch Midway, 11-inch Oak Park, 8.8-inch Harwood Heights and 8.5-inch Oak Lawn.
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From midnight until Tuesday morning, system snow will begin to subside, but lake-effect snow will continue. Finally, lake-effect snow will begin to gradually end between 9 a.m. and noon Tuesday.
The winter storm warning continues until noon Tuesday night in Cook and Lake (IL) counties. Other warnings and alerts in the area end at 9 p.m. Wind chills will remain below zero throughout Monday.
Heavy snow and intense cold create dangerous driving conditions
Heavy snowfall, gusty winds and cold and chill created dangerous driving conditions on shallow and interstate streets.
Illinois State Police said as of 8:15 p.m. Monday, they had responded to 135 different crashes in the Chicago area and had helped about 60 drivers since midnight.
“The biggest concern was when it started to snow heavily and everyone was moving very slowly, I couldn’t avoid the snow on the windshield,” said driver Steve Martin.
The city of Chicago deployed more than 300 snow vehicles and has asked drivers to slow down in treacherous conditions. And, with all the snow we’ve had recently, the city said it has plans in place, if necessary, to dump that snow into designated areas to remove those piles from the neighborhoods.
“The main focus will be on arterial streets, so those of you who are on residential streets, just have patience,” said Mayor Lori Lightfoot. “This is a practical time on deck and we are willing to make sure our city continues to function even in this extreme weather circumstance.”
The snow fell so intensely that all the plows could do was make room for more snow.
“We have over 3 feet of snow, and when it comes down to lightning, it makes it very difficult,” said Doug Halverson, a farmers operator with Arctic Snow and Ice.
Bleaching conditions were reported along Lake Chicago
In Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood, the wind ripped the lake along Sheridan Road, creating an intense blast of snow.
A few blocks west of the lake, it’s a completely different story – the winds are much calmer and there’s barely any snow. The snow caught some strangers.
“I just came out of the‘ burbs and the ‘burbs’ there was nothing, ”Courtney Podczerwinski said. “And then you go down here by the lake, and it’s completely crazy.”
Gas line fire fires flames into the sky at Highland Park
The snow band of the lake effect fell several inches of snow along the north coast of Chicago Monday afternoon. At 6 p.m., Evanston reported that 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 on Green Bay Road, where the city said a contractor ripped off the gas line with a Bobcat. Highland Park officials said ComEd is working with North Shore Gas to repair the line.
Evanston sounded his tornado sirens to warn people to get their cars off the main roads to ban snow road parking and Niles residents received a voice message and a text message to warn people that the worst of the storm was coming.
Lake-effect snow piles up in northwest Indiana
Heavy snow also affected northwest Indiana, where bleaching conditions were observed on Marquette Park Beach in Gary.
The Indiana Department of Transportation deployed 1,100 plow trucks on the roads Monday night.
Gary public school students have said they will stay home on Tuesday. It was supposed to be their first day in the classroom since last March, but now they will have to wait until Thursday.
Several Cook County vaccination sites will remain closed on Tuesday, Feb. 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 locations will be closed, including large-scale locations.
Officials said anyone who already has an appointment scheduled will get in touch and another appointment will be scheduled this week.
COVID-19 mobile test sites were closed Monday due to extreme cold; however, community-based test sites remained open.
According to the Cook County Medical Office, there have been more than half a dozen deaths related to hypothermia in the winter season. Freezing and weather-related injuries are also on the rise.
To locate a nearby heating center, residents can call city services at 311 or visit 311.chicago.gov.
The city also has dozens of other places where people can seek shelter during the day, including the Chicago Cultural Center, public libraries, district park locations and local police departments.
The city also asks people to palliate and go out in front of their homes and businesses and to check on neighbors. The city also urged people not to take snow off the rooftops as it is a good way to get hurt. Officials say if your home heats up properly, some of that snow will melt.
Firefighters also remind people to make sure their smoke detectors work, citing a recent eruption of deadly fires and offering a reminder not to use stoves for heat and keep the heaters on. space at least three meters from anything combustible.
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