hicago area hit by icy conditions, schools closed, travel disruptions reported

Latest updates:

• 6:47 AM CST: The winter weather advisory has expired for counties south of I-88, but remains in effect for counties to the north until 12 PM CST.
• Scattered showers are expected in the afternoon, followed by fog that will linger into Wednesday.
• Rain is expected to clear out by Tuesday evening.
• More showers are possible Wednesday morning and late Wednesday into Thursday.
• Temperatures will gradually rise throughout the week, reaching the low 40s by the weekend.

Earlier:

• Rain and freezing rain overnight led to ice accumulations on roads and highways.
• Kane and DeKalb Counties in Illinois and Gary and Valparaiso in Indiana saw the most freezing rain.
• Extremely icy conditions were reported in rural Kane County, with numerous spin-outs and slide-offs on highways.
• More than 100 flights were cancelled at O'Hare and Midway International Airports.
• Over 60 schools in the Chicago area closed or switched to e-learning due to the icy conditions.
• Businesses and government offices in some areas, including Kane County, were closed.

Current situation:

• Roads and untreated sidewalks near and south of I-88 are still ice-covered.
• Drivers are advised to use extreme caution and increase their stopping/following distance.
• Be very careful when walking and don't trust any shiny surface.

Future forecast:

• The winter weather advisory will expire at 12 PM CST for counties to the north.
• A brief period of light snow with accumulations of up to one inch is expected in the later morning hours in northern counties.
• Scattered showers are possible in the afternoon, followed by fog.
• Rain is expected to clear out by Tuesday evening.
• More showers are possible Wednesday morning and late Wednesday into Thursday.
• Temperatures will gradually rise throughout the week, reaching the low 40s by the weekend.

Stay safe and be informed! Check the latest weather updates and road conditions before heading out.

Additional resources:

• National Weather Service: https://www.weather.gov/
• Illinois Department of Transportation: https://idot.illinois.gov/travel-information/roadway-information.html
• Indiana Department of Transportation: https://www.in.gov/indot/travel-conditions/

I will continue to update this blog with the latest information as it becomes available.