Winter storm warning and advisories remain in effect as of Saturday night as two very different storms will hit the Chicago area this weekend.
Experts suggest that less than 10th of an inch of freezing rain and sleet was seen and felt in the area Saturday morning.
“I live in Marengo and just in the last half hour, the driveway and sidewalks have gone from being just wet to a sheet of ice,” said NBC 5 viewer Donna Roeschel.
More than 1,200 flights were canceled at Chicago airports Saturday, with a ground stop announced at O'Hare International Airport.
About one to three inches of rain was expected to descend across the Windy City, and especially flood prone areas were experiencing rising waters in the afternoon hours Saturday. Portions of Lake Shore Drive and several nearby streets were closed as a result of high floodwaters.
Your January Winter Storm Weather Photos
Northwest Indiana might experience rain longer and therefore snow less, but it is expected that it will snow longer in northwestern counties in Illinois.
A Winter storm warning issued early Friday morning for McHenry and DeKalb counties went into effect at 9 p.m. and will continue until 3 a.m. Sunday. Around three to six inches of snow are expected in those areas.
Snow started to hit portions of the Chicago area Saturday evening and was expected to last 5 to 6 hours.
Weather
Jasper, Kankakee, Grundy and Newton counties will likely see less than two inches of snow.
Wind gusts are up to 50 mph and will likely stay between 40 and 50 mph Saturday; marking 55 mph closer to the lakefront with occasional waves up to 10 feet possible.
NBC 5 meteorologists warn that there will be reduced visibility throughout the area and drivers should take extra caution before hitting the roads.
The City of Chicago's Office of Emergency Management & Communications official Twitter page warned drivers that South Shore Dr. from 67th St. to 71st St. was closed due to high water. They advised travelers to seek an alternate route.
Sunday is expected to be dry all day long, with some flurries possible at night.
