Chicago Weather Alert: Widespread snow in our area Wednesday

CBS 2 Chief Meteorologist Albert Ramon says the heavy snow is moving on, but you can expect a stray snow shower or two over the next couple of days. 

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Scattered areas of mainly light snow Wednesday evening and overnight. 

According to CBS 2 Chief Meteorologist Albert Ramon, minimal additional accumulations are expected, with less than an inch for most locations. The Winter Weather Advisory has been cancelled for all of northeastern Ilinois, including Chicago. The advisory remains in effect for counties near the lake in NW Indiana where lake effect snow is expected through the evening.

The exception is for parts of Northwest Indiana, where several inches of snowfall is possible due to lake effect. 

La Porte County could measure an additional 4 inches of snow through late Thursday. Lows tonight will be in the low 30s.

Scattered snow showers remain in the forecast for Thursday, including during the morning commute. Up to an inch of additional accumulation is possible. 

A few passing light snow showers are expected on Friday with highs just above freezing. Minimal accumulations are expected.

Scattered snow showers are in the forecast for much of Saturday into the early morning hours of Sunday. A few inches of accumulation is possible over the weekend. 

Highs will turn colder this weekend in the 20s, then to the upper teens by Monday.

TONIGHT: Scattered snow showers. Light accumulations expected, with the exception of lake effect snow for parts of Northwest Indiana. Low 30°

THURSDAY: Cloudy skies and breezy with scattered areas of light snow. High 32°

FRIDAY: Cloudy skies with a few passing light snow showers. High 34°

Here are snow totals for the Chicago area, as reported to the National Weather Service between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m.

CBS 2 meteorologist Robb Ellis says accumulating snowfall could wrap up around 1:00 Wednesday afternoon, with the possibility of scattered snow showers later on in the evening.

Here are snow totals for the Chicago area, as reported to the National Weather Service between 6 a.m. and noon  

Wednesday's snow showers didn't stop commuters from proceeding with their day-to-day travels. 

Whether they were heading to work or school, riders were seen boarding buses and one was even riding their bike - not phased by any of the winter weather.

"If you can not stand the weather, Chicago might not be for you," a commuter said laughing. "But bundle up, get some good gloves."

"Oh yeah, it's fun, it's exciting. I got my bike tires on, mountain bike tires I'm ready," a bicyclist said. 

One commuter said they forgot about winter after all of the mild weather this month.

"I try to get out of the house a little earlier than usual but that's about it," Elizabeth Kerper said. "You know I feel like this January has been so mild basically so far that I was sorta like 'oh yeah, winter it still happens I guess,'"   

If you do have to hit the roads today, it's advised to leave earlier than usual to avoid rushing to your destination. Roads are wet and slippery which can lead to accidents. 

Here are snow totals for the Chicago area, as reported to the National Weather Service between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m.:

CBS 2's Jackie Kostek was live in Mobile Weather Lab in Tinley Park where streets are covered with snow. Slippery driving conditions are slowing traffic.

Illinois Department of Transportation public information officer Maria Castaneda said the warmer temperatures have been helping keep the state's expressways clear Wednesday morning, but as temperatures drop tonight, slushy spots, bridges, and overpasses could freeze.

Snow falling in the Chicago areas causing flight delays at O'Hare and Midway Airports.   

As of 9 a.m. Wednesday, Friday, 290 flights were delayed at O'Hare International Airport. Nearly 70 flights were canceled. 

At Midway International Airport, 12 flights were delayed and 134 flights were canceled.

With snow falling around Chicago, commuters say they're not phased by the winter weather and continuing their morning routine. CBS 2's Mugo Odigwe reported from the Jefferson Park Transportation Center where commuters boarded buses.

Cassandra Bajek from Indiana Department of Transportation joined CBS 2's Ryan Baker and Audrina Bigos to provide an update on Indiana road conditions. 

Bajek said the wet pavement early Wednesday morning will take a turn as snow continues and slushy snow covers roadways. So far, snow-realted crashes have not been a major issue. 

In order to prepare the roads, Bajek said Indiana Department of Transportation pretreated roadways.

She expects conditions to be more hazardous towards south and east Indiana, near Indianapolis. 

Residents in southwest suburban Minooka are waking up to snow covered cars. 

Video shows the snowfall in the area with snow covering streets and cars. 

Check back for updated snow totals. 

CBS 2's Jackie Kostek reported live from the CBS 2 Mobile Weather Lab on I-57. 

She will be tracking driving conditions throughout the morning. 

She said at points, the roadway was down to two lanes and drivers are taking it slow.

Visibility was low due to falling snow. 

City plows and salt trucks have been deployed amid a Winter Weather Advisory Wednesday morning. 

Before you head out for your commute, check the Plow Tracker.

The most significant snowfall for the Chicago area happens between the early morning and mid day, but light snow will continue into the evening.  

You can track the city plows in real time to ensure your drive in clear. 

A warning for Wednesday morning commuters. 

Snow is falling, causing dangerous road conditions. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect until 9 p.m. Wednesday. 

CBS 2's Kris Habermehl recommends allowing extra time before heading out on the roads. Snowy streets are slick and visibility is low with falling snow throughout the morning. 

City salt trucks are out, working to clear roadways. 

2 a.m. to 4 a.m.: Increasing snow from south to north.

4 a.m. to 6 a.m.: Widespread snow, some accumulation on roads.

6 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Widespread snow… Accumulation on roads + morning traffic, may trigger a lot of travel issues.

10 a.m. to Noon: Snow remains persistent in Chicago. Some heavier bursts will be possible thanks to lake enhancement.

Noon to 4 p.m.: Decreasing coverage of snow. Afternoon & evening rush will be much smoother than the morning.

Snow begins increasing after midnight and grows widespread by 4 a.m. Wednesday. Totals are expected to top off at a fairly modest 2 to 4 inches, but it will be falling during the Wednesday morning rush – making for a potentially slippery morning commute.

A Winter Weather Advisory begins at midnight Tuesday night, and continues through midnight Wednesday night. The entire Chicago area is under the advisory, along with much of Illinois to the west and southwest.

Parts of downstate Illinois – including Danville, Champaign, Decatur, Vandalia, and Carbondale – will all be under a Winter Storm Warning beginning at 9 p.m. Snow totals in those areas could top out at 7 inches.

The Winter Storm Warning also stretches from St. Louis through Indianapolis to Detroit.

A Winter Weather Advisory is also issued for a wide swath of the country – from northern Maine southwest all the way to West Texas. A tornado warning was issued in Louisiana west-southwest of New Orleans Tuesday night, and a tornado was also confirmed earlier in Pasadena, Texas east of Houston.

Back in Chicago, the first fingers of snow are expected to move in around 2 a.m. They will be on the light side and may even be mixed with rain at the beginning.

But snow be will widespread over most of the area by 4 a.m. This is expected to be a wet and heavier snow, so plan on slushy accumulation for your morning commute. 

The snow will still be falling everywhere and accumulating at 7 a.m. as the morning rush hour peaks.

The best timeline for accumulating snow is 4 a.m. to noon. After noon, there will still be isolated pockets of snow, and some lake-effect snow will fall late Wednesday on the rim of the lake in Northwest Indiana.

Snow totals could top out at 1 to 3 inches north of Chicago near the Wisconsin state line, 2 to 4 inches for most of the Chicago area and parts west, and 4 to 6 inches for parts of Northwest Indiana – including Valparaiso, LaPorte, and Rensselaer.

Scattered snow shower chances continue Wednesday night and into Thursday morning. Only light accumulations are expected in this timeframe, but slick spots are still possible through Thursday morning.

Little to no accumulation is in the forecast for Friday, with just some lingering snow chances. We'll have another opportunity for measurable snowfall this weekend, especially late Saturday through Sunday morning. A few inches to several inches of accumulation will be possible then.