No Trick: Snow Kicks Off Halloween in Chicago

Gusting winds, cold temperatures and snow to affect Halloween festivities

Mother Nature had a trick up her sleeve for Halloween.

Crews worked hard in Northwest Indiana Friday night to restore power back to the tens of thousands without it after an unpleasant day in the Chicago area.

High winds and wet, snowy weather left trees uprooted, communities damaged and Halloween events canceled.

Ahead of a cold, windy day, snowflakes were spotted early Friday in Chicago's north and west suburbs, from Waukegan to Elgin. By 8 a.m. the snow had moved into the city.

The National Weather Service issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Jasper, Lake, Newton and Porter counties in Indiana from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday.

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Winds of between 25 mph and 35 mph with gusts of up to 50 mph are expected by early Friday afternoon, according to the NWS, and even stronger winds are likely near Lake Michigan.

There also is a threat for heavy bursts of lake-effect snow showers Friday afternoon and evening, resulting in isolated accumulations of one to two inches.

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Some heavy snowfall could limit visibility under a mile and make travel hazardous across the area, the NWS reports.

In the Chicago area, a Wind Advisory was issued from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday.

The NWS says the area could see northerly winds of up to 50 mph and gusts of 55 mph along Lake Michigan, blowing down tree limbs and power lines.

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Forecast models show a cold front arriving in the Chicago area after midnight, particularly between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., bringing winds from the north.

Temperatures early Friday aren't expected to climb much higher than the low 40s. Factor in the wind, and it'll be considerably colder.

The system that puts a damper on Halloween Friday will be out of the area by Saturday. While the weekend begins on a cold note but will improve a bit. Sunday will begin with some sunshine before clouds increase later in the day with temperatures in the 50s.

All of this is quite a switch from Monday's high temperatures in the mid- to upper 70s. 

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