Hundreds of Flights Already Canceled at Chicago Airports as Storm Approaches
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Pete Sack is tracking a winter storm heading for the Chicago area.
As a winter storm approaches the Chicago-area, both local airports are already canceling hundreds of flights.
At O’Hare International Airport, nearly 200 flights have already been canceled, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation. Delays are still minimal, clocking in at under 15 minutes on average, but a total of 199 flights have already been canceled ahead of the storm.
It’s a similar story at Midway International Airport, as 109 flights have already been grounded because of the impending storm.
The Chicago area is bracing for a winter storm that could dump several inches of snow across northern Illinois and northwest Indiana. Here's a breakdown of the forecast so far and how much snow could fall in the approaching system. We will continue to update this forecast as the storm system moves in. Click here for the latest updates.
A Winter Storm Warning was issued for much of the Chicago area beginning Friday afternoon through Saturday morning. The warning was issued for Cook, Lake, DuPage, Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, Ogle, Lee, DeKalb and Kane counties in Illinois, beginning at 3 p.m. Friday. It takes effect in LaSalle, Kendall, Grundy, Will and Kankakee counties in Illinois, as well as Lake and Porter counties in Indiana, beginning at 7 p.m. A warning in Newton, Jasper and Benton counties in Indiana was issued for 12 a.m. through 3 p.m. CST Saturday. LaPorte County in Indiana was expected to be under a Winter Storm Watch from Friday through Saturday evening.
By rush hour Friday, light snow is possible for many northern and northwest suburbs.
By 8 p.m. Friday, snow grows more widespread across the Chicago area, moving toward northwest Indiana.
The snow continues across northern Illinois and inches further into northwest Indiana.
Heavier snow falls in far north and northwest suburbs as the system continues to move east.
By the overnight hours Saturday morning, the entire Chicago area should be covered by snow.
Moderate to heavy snow continues to fall across virtually all of the Chicago area.
Heavier snow continues across the metro area as it shifts east over northwest Indiana.
Snow continues shifting east, decreasing in intensity for parts of far northwest Illinois.
Snow continues to taper in far northwest locations.
By 2 p.m. Saturday, snow begins to move out of parts of the Chicago area and taper near the city. Heavier snow continues in some southern locations and across much of northwest Indiana.
Areas along the lakefront continue to see lighter snow, though the system will have moved out of much of the Chicago area.
A lake effect snow system begins to develop mainly on the Chicago side of Lake Michigan.
A lake effect plume on the Chicago side could mean moderate to heavy snow during the overnight hours.
The band will continue through Sunday morning.
It begins to push off to the east later Sunday morning and heading into the afternoon.
The band moves east into Northwest Indiana Sunday afternoon.
Additional, heavy lake effect snow is possible in northwest Indiana through the afternoon.
By this time, the snow will have likely come to an end across the area.
As snow begins to move into the Chicago area, it likely won't measure out to much, though some hazardous travel conditions are possible in far northwest locations.
Heading into the evening, snow begins to accumulate, bringing totals to anywhere from half an inch to more than an inch in several locations, particularly north and west.
Snow totals continue to grow as snow intensifies in the overnight hours. Totals of more than an inch are likely across much of the area, though some southern locations may see less than an inch by this time.
Growing at a rate of an inch or more an hour, totals climb to anywhere from 2 to 5 inches across the area.
By 9 a.m. Saturday, projected snow totals climb to more than 6 inches for some locations north and around the city. Some southern locations may only see around 2 inches at this point.
Snow totals stay fairly steady, growing by up to an inch in some locations.
Some areas could reach as high as 7 inches of snow by this time.
Numbers hold steady still, climbing by possibly a tenth of an inch in some locations.
By Sunday morning, numbers slowly climb along the lakefront where a lake effect band is expected.
Snow totals climb slightly for lakefront locations.
Snow totals in excess of 7 inches are expected for locations along the lakefront by the time the lake effect band starts to move out.
By the time the system is complete out of the Chicago area, some locations could see more than 8 inches of snow.
Models vary in terms of how much snow is predicted for Chicago. At O'Hare Airport, the numbers range from 8 inches to almost 6 inches.
In addition to the snow, the storm will also usher in a bitter blast in the Chicago area. Things start off mild Saturday morning, with highs in the upper-20s
By Saturday evening, some locations could see temperatures in the teens or lower.
By Sunday morning, temps plummet, with wind chill values dipping as low as -14 for some locations.
A look at your seven-day forecast.
This weekend’s snowfall could dump between four and eight inches of snow on the city, and totals could go even higher as lake-effect snow is expected to impact the area as the weekend goes along.
Travellers are advised to check on their flight status before heading to the airport.
