Feb 8, 2010 10:50 pm US/Central
Winter Storm Warning Issued For Chicago
Storm Could Bring 10-13 Inches Of Snow To Much Of Area; More Than 200 Flights Already Canceled
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
The combination of the snowstorm that has socked the East Coast and the storm that is expected to bring as much as 13 inches of snow to the Chicago area over the next two days has led already to the cancellation of more than 230 flights at the city's airports.
Airlines at O'Hare International Airport have "pro-actively canceled" more than 200 flights for Tuesday, according to the city Department of Aviation. Airlines also report delays between 25-35 minutes to Minneapolis and the East Coast because of snow conditions.
At Midway Airport, more than 30 flights are delayed one hour or more because of winter storm conditions on the East Coast. Additionally, in anticipation of the winter storm expected in the Chicago area, Southwest Airlines has canceled all flights beginning at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, through 10 a.m. on Wednesday, according to the Department of Aviation.
According to the National Weather Service, two storms are on the "perfect track" to hit Chicago with as much as 13 inches over the next 48 hours.
The snowfall was expected to be accompanied by strong winds, which could result in blowing and drifting snow, as well as sleet and ice accumulations. Travel is expected to be severely impacted and even major roads and highways could become snow-covered, the weather service warns.
The snow was expected to begin falling Monday evening and continue through Tuesday night.
The weather service has issued a winter storm warning, which is in effect from 9 p.m. Monday through noon on Wednesday.
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NATOMY OF THE STORM:
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"The storm is going to be a little bit of an unusual snow storm because of the long duration that's expected," Gino Izzi, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service, said.
The worst weather is forecast for late Tuesday when there is expected to be a period of six hours when Chicago will experience northeasterly winds, which are favorable to lake effect snow, Izzi said.
The expected heavy snow fall is based on models that show two storms above the northern plains which are about to merge and are "on the perfect track" to hit Chicago, according to Izzi.
Izzi said this storm is not connected to the recent blizzard that pummeled the northeast.
"Vicious" winds of up to 40 miles-per-hour Tuesday night into Wednesday morning could result in "blizzard-like conditions" for the Chicago area, Izzi said. Blowing and drifting, with near-blizzard conditions in open areas can be expected Tuesday night into Wednesday, according to the weather service.
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The potential exists for ground blizzard and near whiteout conditions to develop in rural areas late Tuesday into Wednesday morning, the weather service says.
While the snowfall will generally be light to moderate in intensity, the long duration of the storm will result in high snowfall totals by late Tuesday, the weather service said.
The weather service expects 2 to 4 inches of snow to fall Monday night, 4 to 6 inches during the day Tuesday, and between 3 to 5 inches Tuesday night.
The heaviest snow fall is expected near Lake Michigan in Cook, Lake and DuPage counties in Illinois and Lake and Porter counties in Indiana, according to Izzi. This area -- stretching from near Woodstock in the northwest to Joliet in the southwest to Kankakee in the south, and also encompassing Valparaiso and Rensselaer in Indiana, was expected to receive between 10 and 13 inches of snow, according to a weather service model.
Travel is likely to be significantly hampered during the snowstorm and because of its long duration, even major roads and highways may become snow-covered, the weather service said. Blowing and drifting snow Tuesday night into Wednesday will result in near ground blizzard conditions in outlying areas, making travel "extremely dangerous," according to the weather service.
The National Weather Service is advising to allow for extra travel time and, if possible, to avoid travel all-together Monday night, Tuesday and Wednesday morning.
Cook County's Highway Department has put its winter storm control operations into gear be deploying crews and equipment to tackle snow, ice and other hazards on hundreds of miles of county-maintained roads from Palatine Township in the north to Bloom Township in the far south.
Once the snow and wind stop, area residents can expect cold temperatures in the storm's wake. High temperatures Thursday were expected to be 16 to 20 degrees and on Friday the highs were expected to be in the upper 20s. Friday night through President's Day, highs were expected to be in the upper 20s, with low temperatures between 16 and 20 degrees.
While the snow accumulation here may sound unpleasant, compared with the situation in Washington, D.C., dealing with it is sure to be a cakewalk.
Reagan International Airport logged 18 inches this weekend – the fourth-highest storm total for the city. Nearby Dulles International Airport was hit with 32.4 inches, shattering a record.
Chicago winters tend to be far snowier than those in Washington, D.C. But the snow totals logged at Dulles are higher than in any of Chicago's three most infamous snowstorms in recent history – 23.0 inches in 1967, 18.8 inches in 1979, and 21.6 inches in 1999.
The snowfall on the Eastern Seaboard
halted about 60 flights from O'Hare and Midway international airports Sunday afternoon.
The Sun-Times Media Wire and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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