A short drive could be the difference between 2 or 9 inches of fresh snowfall from a massive winter storm system passing through the Chicago area Wednesday.
By 7 a.m., more than 130 schools were closed ahead of the expected near-blizzard conditions, with 680 flights canceled at Chicago's O'Hare and another 55 at Midway as snow began to fall across the area.
"The highest amounts are expected south of I-80 in Cook County and in eastern Will County," the National Weather Service said in a statement. Wednesday morning snow began as a mix of rain or sleet before it's expected to develop into heavy wet snow in the afternoon and evening hours.
Here's a look at how much snow has already fallen in some areas:
- Kankakee: 1" by 9:15 a.m.
- Bradley: 1" by 10 a.m.
- Midlothian: 1" by 11:15 a.m.
- Grant Park: 4" by 12 p.m.
- Valparaiso, IN: 3" by 12 p.m.
- Crown Point, IN: 7" by 1 p.m.
- Gary, IN: 5" by 1:15 p.m.
- Crete: 6.3" by 1:10 p.m.
- Midway: 1.5" by 2:10 p.m.
- Wheeler, IN: 6" by 2:20 p.m.
- Peotone: 5.3" by 3 p.m.
- St. John, IN: 10" by 3 p.m.
- Merrillville, IN: 8" by 3 p.m.
- Chicago Heights: 7" by 3 p.m.
- Crete: 7.8" by 3 p.m.
- Lansing: 6" by 3:40 p.m.
- Schererville, IN: 8" by 4 p.m.
- Beecher: 7" by 4 p.m.
- Portage, IN: 8" by 3:45 p.m.
- Hobart, IN: 8.5" by 4:30 p.m.
- O'Hare Airport: 1.2" by 4 p.m.
- Earl Park, IN: 11" by 4 p.m.
- Homewood: 4.5" by 4:15 p.m.
- Cedar Lake, IN: 13" by 5 p.m.
- Park Forest: 4.5" by 5:15 p.m.
- Dyer, IN: 8.8" by 5 p.m.
Projected snow totals by 12 a.m. Friday:
- Aurora: 1.9"
- Benton Harbor: 8.0"
- DeKalb: 0.9"
- DuPage: 2.0"
- Gary, IN: 5.5"
- Kankakee: 6.5"
- Midway: 3.9"
- Morris: 3.0"
- O'Hare: 2.7"
- Peru: 0.6"
- Rockford: 0.2"
- Romeoville: 3.7"
- South Bend, IN: 8.4"
- Valparaiso, IN: 7.1"
- Waukegan: 1.8"
- Wonder Lake: 0.9"
Snow is flying. How much is the question. Models disagree so watch CH5 for details. @nbcchicago pic.twitter.com/vaKnR6ehrZ
— ByronNBCCHICAGO (@ByronNBCChicago) February 24, 2016
