Chicago Weather Alert: Lake-effect snow overnight, cold Friday morning

Heavy snow was falling consistently in the Chicago area Thursday night, with Cook County in the crosshairs during the 10 p.m. hour.

There was a thick coating of snow on the ground downtown as of 10 p.m.

The heavy, wind-driven snow was also reducing visibility Thursday night.

Overnight, lake-effect snow will persist. There will be some lake-effect snow in the city, but most will be confined to Northwest Indiana.

The snow will clear out overnight, but cold like we haven't experienced in a while w ill follow. It will be 19 degrees at 7 a.m., and wind chills will make it feel like the single digits.

A high of 27 will be reached at 3 p.m.

But not to worry – the 40s return for the weekend.

Snow was falling Thursday night across the Chicago area, with a Winter Storm Warning still in effect for Lake and McHenry counties.

As of 10 p.m., big, chunky snowflakes were still falling and piling up in Buffalo Grove, and the wind was whipping the snow around.

As CBS 2's Marissa Perlman reported, the drive was dicey and even dangerous in the north suburbs. Cars were seen stalling and crashing all night.

One car hit a guardrail on the Tri-State Tollway (I-94) in Lake Forest. In Glenview, a driver slid right onto the front lawn of a home.

In Mundelein, a school bus and a plow collided. None of the kids were hurt, but parents did have to pick up their kids from the scene of the accident.

Not far from that scene, there were two separate spinouts – where one driver waited for a tow.

And those who needed a tow had a longer wait time than usual. Some companies we spoke with said on Thursday afternoon, they got behind in responding to so many spinouts and stuck drivers. 

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Snow was falling everywhere around the Chicago area Thursday night. A Winter Weather Advisory remained in effect for Cook County until midnight.

CBS 2's Sabrina Franza got in the Mobile Weather Lab for our 10 o'clock news. By 10 p.m., the snow was easing up as she headed up the Northwest Side on the Kennedy Expressway. The snow was still falling steadily, but the roadway was clear.

Some people were losing their patience as they waited for a Chicago Transit Authority bus outside the Jefferson Park Blue Line station. They were standing in the snow for over 40 minutes.

"It'spretty long for a bus to come," said Charlie Rebak. "I think it's bad transportation."

"Public transportation hasn't been really the best lately," said Juan Barahonn.

But not everyone was unhappy about the weather.

"This is heaven," said Larry Durr. "I love it!"

And Durr had some advice.

"My advice to the people worried about the snow and the weather - get a grip!" he said.

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The Winter Storm Warning has also been extended to midnight for McHenry County.

It was quiet in historic Woodstock Thursday evening as the roads snowy in McHenry County. Crews were out and about treating the roads as the northern and northwest suburbs were expected to get the worst of the winter weather.

CBS 2 Chief Meteorologist Albert Ramon tracks the snow that'll continue to fall through Friday.

About 24 trucks were traveling along the county's 21 routes throughout the day. McHenry County crews cover a total of 550 miles.

The people hit by the tree were all Northwestern faculty members. One was treated on campus and did not go to the hospital, but three were taken by ambulance to NorthShore University HealthSystem Evanston Hospital.

At least one was in critical condition.

The path where the tree toppled over in front of the Jacobs building along Sheridan Road is a main route for students.

"I would have been walking past here as if nothing would have happened - or could have happened - but now I know I need to pay more attention when walking to class," said student Walter Douglas.

Officials, again, believe the weather may be to blame for the toppling of the tree.

Northwestern said it is working with an arborist to determine what caused the tree to fall and if other trees in the area are potentially compromised.

McHenry County was expected to receive some of the highest forecasted precipitation in the Chicago area on Thursday.

CBS 2's Sara Machi went out there and saw Illinois Department of Transportation, Woodstock and McHenry County plows out all day.

McHenry County Division of Transportation workers said they wanted to get ahead of all of this on Wednesday by pre-treating their roads and then loading up again when CBS 2 stopped by on Thursday.

About 24 trucks were traveling along the county's 21 routes throughout the day.

Crews said they expected the snow earlier but a lot of people likely left for work with clear roads, and they wanted to make sure they got home safe.

The daylong mix of snow, sleet, and rain is making things a mess on the roads, especially in the north and northwest suburbs. CBS 2's Kris Habermehl is keeping an eye on First Alert Traffic.

The National Weather Service has extended the Winter Storm Warning for Lake County, Illinois, and the Winter Weather Advisory for Cook County, until midnight.

A Winter Weather Advisory is also now in effect from 7 p.m. Thursday to 4 a.m. Friday for Lake and Porter counties in Indiana.

CBS 2 Chief Meteorologist Albert Ramon says a Winter Storm Warning is in effect until 9:00 p.m. for Lake (IL) and McHenry County. Also, a Winter Weather Advisory is in effect until 9:00 p.m. for Cook County, including the City of Chicago, and the western suburbs and a Lakeshore Flood Advisory is in effect until 3:00 a.m. Friday for Cook, Lake (IN) and Porter County.

Snow continues through the mid-evening for areas near the Illinois/Wisconsin state line. Hazardous travel is likely in this area due to snow accumulations of four to six inches.

For Chicago, a rain and sleet mix will transition over to snow late this afternoon into the evening. Some heavy bursts of snow will be possible early this evening thanks to lake enhancement.

Slippery travel is likely in the city and western suburbs this evening. Snowfall accumulations could be as high as two to four inches, with lighter amounts south of I-88. A strong northeast wind will create some lakeshore flooding in Cook County, along with Lake and Porter County in Northwest Indiana.

 It'll be very cold Friday morning with lows in the upper teen, but wind chills in the single digits. Clearing skies, breezy and cold for Friday afternoon with highs in the mid to upper 20s. A breezy southwest wind will warm temperatures back up to the 40s this weekend. 

TONIGHT: Evening snow likely, then cloudy overnight. Lake effect snow overnight for northwest Indiana. Low 19°, wind chills in the single digits.

FRIDAY: Clearing skies, breezy and colder. High 27°

SATURDAY: Partly cloudy and breezy. High 42°

Four people were hit by a falling tree at Northwestern University's campus in Evanston on Thursday.

Evanston police said they responded to the 2000 block of Sheridan Road for a tree than fell and struck four pedestrians on a sidewalk. Three were hospitalized, one with serious injuries.

Matt Smith, a division chief with the Evanston Fire Department, said at the scene the tree likely fell because of the weather conditions.

"The snow, ice, wind combination contributed most likely to the falling of a fairly large tree that resulted in injuries to the victims here today," he said.

CBS 2 Chief Meteorologist Albert Ramon is tracking the snowy conditions where it's heavier near the Wisconsin border and a wintery mix further south, making for slick conditions on roadways.

Chicago's Streets  Department of Streets and Sanitation has deployed salt spreaders to prepare for the incoming snow. 

The city confirmed 200 trucks were delayed amid the Winter Weather Advisory. 

Salt spreaders will focus on addressing snow and ice along arterial routes and DuSable Lake Shore Drive. 

As of 8 a.m. Thursday, 202 flights were canceled at O'Hare International Airport. 

At Midway International Airport, 118 flights were canceled.

Airport officials confirmed in a tweet, airlines have "proactively cancelled" flights "due to approaching winter weather."

CBS 2's Mobile weather Lab captured light snow flakes on eastbound I-90 near Hampshire. 

Snow will ramp us as the morning goes on. 

A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for Lake and McHenry counties where 4 to 6 inches of snowfall, especially near the Illinois-Wisconsin state line. 

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for Cook, DuPage, Grundy and Will counties. 

Northwest Indiana can expect rain and potentially freezing rain. 

4 a.m. to 7 a.m.: Increasing moisture from west to east. Wet snow from DeKalb to McHenry to Waukegan. For Chicago, we'll have a mix of rain, sleet, wet snow. Some freezing rain possible for areas south of I-80. Minimal travel impacts in this timeframe.

7 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Some slick spots possible, especially in McHenry and Lake County. Winter mix continues in Chicago.

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Wet snow to the north, but a chance for sleet, freezing rain and drizzle in Chicago. Increasing slippery travel issues, especially for areas north of I-80.

2 p.m. to 6 p.m.: A transition from a wintry mix to snow in Chicago. Slippery travel likely, especially during the afternoon/evening rush.

A Winter Storm Warning will be in effect on Thursday for Lake and McHenry counties, due to the potential for 4 to 6 inches of snowfall, especially near the Illinois-Wisconsin state line.

The Rockford, Milwaukee, and Janesville areas are also under the winter storm warning. It runs until 9 p.m. Thursday.

A Winter Weather Advisory will be in effect on Thursday for Cook County and the western suburbs, due to the likelihood of slippery travel especially in the afternoon. All of Cook, DuPage, Will, Kane, Kendall, Grundy, DeKalb, and LaSalle counties are affected. It is also in effect from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday.

Thursday morning: A rain and sleet mix for Chicago and most of the western suburbs. Wet snow will be increasing through the morning from DeKalb to McHenry to Waukegan and points northward. Areas south of I-80 will have a chance for rain and freezing rain, where a light glaze of ice is possible.

Thursday afternoon: Snow for areas north of I-80. Some of the snow could be heavy for locations near the Wisconsin and Illinois state line. Areas south of I-80 will have mainly a rain and sleet mix.

Slippery travel is likely, especially for the afternoon and evening commute. The most hazardous travel will be in McHenry and Lake County (Illinois), that's where a Winter Storm Warning will be in effect all day Thursday.

Snowfall amounts from Thursday morning to Friday morning: Four to six inches near the Wisconsin and Illinois state line, in McHenry and Lake County (Illinois). Areas along I-88 will be in the range of two to four inches. Lighter amounts south of I-88 and mainly rain south of I-80.

Isolated locations of 4 inches will be possible in Northwest Indiana, thanks to lake effect snow late Thursday into Friday morning.

CBS 2