Chicago Area Local News

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Last night the big enemy was snow. And while the wind is blowing snow onto the roads, the greatest danger Sunday night is ice.

Chicagoans are braving the bitter cold to dig their cars out of the snow – all in preparation for what could be a very slippery morning commute.

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"I definitely don't want to be out here in the morning looking like this," said Hyde Park resident Vanessa Patterson. "It's cold out here now so imagine how it's going to be in the morning. The weather's supposed to drop."

Many side streets are still snowy and slushy.

"It's very difficult to get through there, you got to go 10 or 15, but you can't stand still--you stop you're stuck," said Hyde Park resident Larry White.

And with a chill at around zero and temperatures in the single digits throughout much of the area, Saturday's melted snow can quickly turn to ice. The city and IDOT are urging anyone who is out in the elements to use caution when driving and even walking.

"We would advise anyone who is out driving late tonight to be on the lookout for black ice because there was areas where the snow melted and it's going to freeze up, intersections also," said IDOT spokesperson Mike Claffey. 
 
Snow plows were out all weekend trying to keep up with as much as an inch of snow per hour at some points, but it was still slick and slushy on many streets and highways early Sunday. Overnight, Illinois State Police reported more than 40 accidents on local expressways, none with serious injuries.

As much as 10.5 inches of snow fell on some parts of northern Illinois since Saturday afternoon and although O'Hare International Airport has seen only about 3.1 inches, more than 200 flights were cancelled Saturday. Almost another 200 flights had been cancelled and some flights were being delayed 15 minutes on Sunday.

Midway International Airport saw much more snow, about 10 inches, but only 10 flights were cancelled Saturday. Another 25 were cancelled Sunday, and only 15 minute delays.

The City of Chicago deployed its entire fleet of 273 snow fighting trucks on Saturday and officials added 139 garbage trucks with "quick hitch" plows to help clear city streets. Twenty-four smaller trucks, including Snow Tigers and 4x4 pickups were also being used to help plow.

"We've got a lot of work left to do," Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Michael Picardi said early Sunday. "Anytime you get snow that rapidly, you could have 500 trucks out, it really doesn't matter. You've just got to continue to work and try to break it down."

Picardi pointed out that Chicago has more than 9,000 miles of city streets to plow when it snows, so when snow is heavy, crews focus on the city's main streets first, before moving to the side streets, so if you haven't see a snow plow on your street, be patient.

Crews spent the better part of Sunday clearing side streets once the snowstorm was over.

"Now that the system that brought us heavy snows has left the area, and our main routes are in good shape, we are able to hit the side streets with everything we have which in this case is 436 trucks," Picardi said.

As of 8 p.m., all of those trucks were off the road. But 146 of them will return Monday at 6 a.m. for touch ups on side streets.

"Most streets look good, but you get in a turning lane that's not cleared and you slide through – that's extremely dangerous," Picardi said.

The Illinois Department of Transportation deployed its full fleet of snow fighting trucks during the snowstorm, more than 360 trucks overall, to plow and salt Illinois highways. To get ahead of the freeze Sunday, IDOT has 100 trucks out salting; the fleet's operators have been busy cleaning up after last night's snowstorm. So have many people in the Chicago area, who awoke to find a lot more snow on their sidewalks, driveways and cars.

In south suburban Tinley Park, residents pulled out the heavy machinery – snow blowers. Three members of the Traskell family tackled their long, circular driveway.

"Three hours out here, lots of sweat; we have 4,000 square feet of driveway here," said Steve Traskell Sr.

More than six inches fell in the suburbs, but the sunshine made it pleasant for some.

"I could be out here all day," said Bryan Poradzisz. "What the snow does to the trees, makes it so beautiful."

In Englewood, youngsters shoveled sidewalks. On the Northwest Side, early risers shoveled and spread salt on the sidewalks before their neighbors awoke.

"I did my house, I usually clean their snow if I'm up to it," said Manny Bonilla.

Brandon Johnson trudged through the deep stuff to clear snow from his neighbor's cars in Hyde Park.

"We have elderly people on the block, you have to get the stuff up so they can move back and forward," Johnson said. 

Douglas Gary spent most of his morning on Sunday clearing the snow from the sidewalk in front of his shop in Portage Park.

"You're used to it; it's Chicago! You have to expect it. I suppose we'll get another wave of it in ten days or so," Gary said. "There's actually quite a few older people in the neighborhood so we like to keep things clean for them."

The CDC considers the impending cold weather to be 'extreme cold,' which can be dangerous to the elderly and the very young, so that's something to keep in mind when you're getting the kids dressed for the school bus Monday.


CBS 2's Katie McCall, Joanie Lum, Rafael Romo, and Mary Kay Kleist contributed to this report.

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