Temperatures dropped in a single day, turning rain into a gradual snow that snarled the Monday morning commute and prompted a whole bunch of flight cancelations.
Snowfall by the early afternoon on Veterans Day might convey a complete accumulation of three to 5 inches within the Chicago space, in accordance with the National Weather Service.
About 1.6 inches of snow fell on O’Hare International Airport between midnight and 6 a.m., in accordance with climate service meteorologist Andrew Krein.
The heaviest snowfall is anticipated between eight a.m. and 9 a.m., earlier than petering out within the afternoon, Krein mentioned. The snowfall ought to finish by three p.m. or four p.m. — simply in time for the night commute.
“Any [snowfall] in the afternoon is going to be relatively light; but it will be windier and colder, and what’s fallen with be blowing around and may reduce visibility,” Krein mentioned.
Airlines had canceled greater than 300 flights by eight a.m. at O’Hare and Midway airports, in accordance with the Chicago Department of Aviation. Delays at O’Hare had been averaging 59 minutes.
Snow was a problem for crews and passengers at O’Hare International Airport Monday morning.Daryl Van Schouwen/Sun-Times
Temperatures will peak within the low 30s Monday, then drop to 12 levels over the following two nights, in accordance with the climate service. Tuesday’s excessive will probably be 21 levels; Wednesday will attain 29 levels, in accordance with the climate service.
The deep freeze is weird, even by Chicago’s unpredictable requirements. Average highs for this time of the month normally sit within the mid 50s, with lows hardly ever dropping under 30, in accordance with climate service meteorologist Gino Izzi.
Tuesday’s excessive of 22 ought to simply break the document for the coldest excessive on Nov. 12, which was set in 1995 when temperatures peaked at 28 levels, Izzi mentioned.
We’re presently inspecting newest information coming in & thus far it nonetheless seems seemingly that a number of inches of snow will happen in a single day into Monday, considerably impacting the Monday morning commute. A winter climate advisory will in all probability be wanted for parts of the world.
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) November 10, 2019
In preparation for the snow and wintry situations, the Department of Streets and Sanitation will deploy greater than 200 spreaders and add extra crews as situations warrant, officers mentioned.
Skies will clear Tuesday as temperatures inch upward over the remainder of the week, the climate service mentioned. Forecasts predict that temperatures will hover within the 20s and 30s earlier than climbing to just about 40 levels over the weekend.
Public buildings will probably be transformed to warming facilities throughout Cook County in anticipation of the frigid climate, officers mentioned.
“Residents who do not have adequate heating in their homes are encouraged to visit a warming center to ensure they remain safe,” officers mentioned.
The Chicago Fire Department doesn’t suggest utilizing house heaters; nevertheless, if used, guarantee they’re at the very least three toes away from something that may ignite, officers mentioned. Additionally if pipes had been to freeze, don’t use any open flame to thaw them, however use a hair dryer or heating pad.
The oncoming “arctic blast” might endanger the lives of over 80,000 homeless individuals within the space, in accordance with a USA Today report.
A full checklist of warming facilities might be discovered right here.