Chicagoans are getting ready for the first snowstorm of the season.

Meteorological winter doesn't begin until next month, but a lot of people are trying to get ahead of the November winter storm.

Possible double-digit snow totals are getting a lot of attention, especially so early in the season.

In preparation for the winter storm, organizations including the Most Worshipful Job Grand Lodge, Most Worthy Grand Chapter, and some staff from Montrose Behavioral Health Hospital banded together on Sunday to hold a giveaway. They brought coats, warm food, and blankets to the unhoused population living near Montrose Beach. 

They were out around noon and tried to reach as many people living in tents and temporary shelters as they could. They were also offering rides to their giveaway site and also taking out food to people who needed it, estimating they reached about 50 people.

"Something just to warm them up," volunteer Marzette Jackson said.

The event was planned before the snowstorm was in the forecast, but the changing weather made it even more timely. 

"Handing out cold-weather supplies. Give em a warm meal, give em some blankets, give em some sweatshirts, coats," volunteer Crystal Allen said.

These preps come in parallel to traditional snow work, with salt trucks loading up at a yard on Chicago's West Side.

As for air travel, at Midway, canceled travel plans started to add up on the flight boards. Dozens of cancellations at Midway and more than 400 at O'Hare due to the weather.

The weather is creating even more travel trouble, a combination of falling snow and fallout from the federal government shutdown.

Of course, with storms come storm chasers. 

"We got GPS here, we got the radar, and we got weather information."

Jake Stehli, a storm chaser from Minnesota, gave a tour of his setup during a stop at Montrose Beach. The equipment on his car was installed just weeks ago. This will be the first test of his new system for a winter storm hitting early in the season. It also has a heater, and it will keep the snow off.

Stehli said he has an emergency kit in his car, should he see someone stranded or run into trouble himself.