Chicago Area Local News

CHICAGO (CBS) ― The winter storm couldn't have come on a worse night – with thousands of holiday travelers returning home.

By the end of the day Monday, some areas could see 7 inches of snow.

On Monday morning, no delays were reported at O'Hare or Midway international airports, although CBS 2's Susan Carlson says that will likely change. On Sunday, the airports experienced serious problems.

More than 50 flights at O'Hare Airport were canceled Sunday because of low visibility, as well as weather conditions on the East Coast. Some flights were delayed for up to 90 minutes.

"Actually I was supposed to depart at 6 and it kept getting bumped," said traveler Sandy Wilcox. "I kept getting messages on my cell phone, saying delayed, delayed delayed."

She came to Chicago to bag some holiday shopping bargains, but ended up spending two hours more in the city than she bargained for.

Hundreds of cots were set up for stranded travelers.

Another woman told CBS 2 she missed her connecting flight because of delays at O'Hare, and the airline said they may not be able to get her on another plane until Tuesday.

"We get here and they tell us, 'Sorry, you're not flying out until Tuesday morning. We can't pay for your hotel room because it was weather, and good luck,'" said Alesha Horst.

Hundreds of passengers peered at monitors Sunday only to find out their trips home would be delayed or cancelled.

The University of Missouri women's basketball team was also caught in the mix.

"They said it's going to push us back a whole two hours," said team member Alyssa Hollins. "We've got to get back to school for class in the morning.

"I actually have a test tomorrow at 11 o'clock in the morning. So I'm trying to study and stay awake at the same time," said Amanda Hennehan.

They all ended up waiting because of a winter storm system moving through Chicago and pushing east.

"Yes. Visibility has been a problem throughout the afternoon, early evening. And weather on the East Coast has impacted flights coming in and out of Chicago as it usually does," said Karen Pride of the Chicago Department of Aviation.

It slammed travel plans for the Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball team. They camped out at O'Hare after playing a tournament in Miami – their flight back home cancelled, too.

"I'm a poor college student, I've got no money. We're back here in Chicago and it sure isn't sunny," said traveler Lindsey Nyenhuis. "We came from St. Thomas and we had a lot of fun, every single day out on the beach in the sun. But now we're stuck in Chicago because our flight got delayed."

They scrapped plans for a flight and headed back to Cedar rapids by bus – a four hour ride.


Weather Delays
More than 50 flights at O'Hare Airport were canceled at O'Hare Sunday because of low visibility and a winter weather advisory has been issued in anticipation for Chicago's first significant snowfall of the season.

Although Sunday's daytime snow accumulation was less than an inch, low visibility in the Chicago area and weather conditions on the East coast caused more than 50 flights at O'Hare to be canceled as of 8:30 p.m. Sunday. Delays are averaging between 60 and 90 minutes for flights in and out of the airport, according to the city's Department of Aviation.

A Midway Airport, delays averaged 15 to 45 minutes, with some flights delayed over an hour, the department said.

Chicago had it easy compared with many parts of Wisconsin and Michigan.

WDJT-TV in Milwaukee reported that 3 to 8 inches of snow were forecast overnight for the Milwaukee Area. The storm hit on Sunday, a day on which roads were packed with people returning to Milwaukee from the Packers game in Green Bay, as well as the final day of deer gun season. At General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, serious delays were reported.

Farther west, a snow emergency has been declared in Stoughton, Wis., requiring drivers to follow emergency parking rules. Authorities advise drivers to leave early Monday morning and allow time to get to work, reports WISC-TV in Madison.

In Michigan, the National Weather Service forecast up to 10 inches on Sunday. Meteorologist Heather Orow of the weather service's office in Oakland County's White Lake Township says an area from Flint northward could between 6 and 10 inches. Southwestern Michigan's Berrien County could see similar totals.

WWJ-TV in Detroit advised motorists to prepare for a messy commute before snow starts tapering off in the afternoon.

The Associated Press and the STNG Wire contributed to this report.

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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