Mar 2, 2007 7:39 pm US/Central
Light Snow, Strong Wind Make For Frustration
Snow Showers Expected To Continue Through Saturday Morning
CBS 2's Ed Curran and Susan Carlson contributed to this report.
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Chicago has had it all over the past 24 hours – first violent thunderstorms with sleet and freezing rain, followed by rain showers, dense fog, and finally a dry period in the late afternoon with spots of sunlight and temperatures more fit for April.
But on Friday, it was back to snow, which was making for slippery and hazardous conditions on the roads when combined with the wind.
A total of only 1 to 3 inches of snow are expected to accumulate.
However, the wind speed was 25 mph, with gusts up to 36 mph. A wind advisory was called for the entire Chicago area until 6 p.m. Friday evening. While the temperature was in the 20s throughout the area, there was a wind chill of 15 degrees at O'Hare International Airport.
The low visibility and wind brought delays of 15 to 90 minutes for all flights at O'Hare International Airport. Severe storms on the East Coast were also a factor in the delays, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation.
More than 500 flights were canceled at O'Hare Friday.
But Midway International Airport reported less than 10 canceled flights for the day, and minor delays, as of the same time.
The storm system has taken dozens of lives and affected more than 30 states. With tornadoes in the South and blizzards in the West and upper Midwest, the massive storm has snarled air traffic across the country.
Friday's flight cancellations come on the heels of more than 400 canceled flights yesterday.
David Crabill of Dubuque, Iowa should have been on one of those canceled flights.
"I was supposed be home yesterday morning at 9:30," he said.
Instead he made it to Chicago Friday morning only to learn the last leg of his flight was cancelled. So, after eight hours of waiting he headed home by bus.
Kathryn Lachey of Arlington Heights is one of the thousands of passengers whose flight was delayed. But she is one of the few we found who didn't seem to mind.
"I was running a little late, so it was nice to have the extra time, but I have an audition at noon tomorrow, so I'm just hoping it won't be canceled," Lachey said.
Ed Fanning and his family are heading into line in the hopes that they'll make it to Marquette Michigan in time for a wedding tomorrow.
The airport there is closed, he said, but their tickets still say the flight is on time. But Joanne Fanning didn't seem so sure and wanted to leave this message for her granddaughter Dori just in case: "We're trying to make a wedding so if we don't make it I hope everything is well with you. I love you."
CBS 2 Meteorologist Ed Curran says the light snow will continue on and off throughout the day, and is also expected overnight on Saturday morning.
Early Friday morning, authorities had reported several crashes and spinouts on area expressways, for which the weather may be to blame. Among them were a crash on the Northwest Tollway near Marengo and a spinout that has caused backups on the Bishop Ford Freeway near 103rd Street.
Drivers are urged to use caution on the roadways.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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