‘Slow and slippery’ road conditions will improve for Tuesday morning commute after winter weather hits city

After snow created slippery street situations Monday night, commuters ought to anticipate a smoother drive Tuesday morning as situations are anticipated to enhance, the Nationwide Climate Service mentioned.

Meteorologist Lee Carlaw mentioned that with the snow out of the best way, street situations needs to be a lot better, however that commuters ought to nonetheless be cautious of potential ice.

“The higher Chicagoland space is finished for proper now,” Carlaw mentioned, referring to snow and winds. “We’re not anticipating any hostile impacts [on the morning commute], simply any liquid on untreated surfaces that may freeze.”

A bit greater than 1 / 4 of an inch of snow was on the bottom Monday evening, the NWS mentioned. The subsequent probability for snow will likely be Friday and Saturday, although Carlaw just isn’t anticipating a lot.

“At this level, it’s not trying like a major snowfall producer,” Carlaw mentioned. “What we wish to seek advice from as conversational snow.”

A winter climate advisory for components of northeastern Illinois — initially in impact till 4 p.m. Monday however prolonged to 9 p.m. — coated central and northern Prepare dinner County and DuPage County, based on the Nationwide Climate Service.

Brett Borchardt, a senior meteorologist with the climate service, mentioned the advisory had been prolonged due to a band of lake-effect snow in southeast Wisconsin that had been anticipated to maneuver south alongside the lakeshore Monday night.

“We wished to verify we had the advisory out [during] the night commute when there could possibly be snow falling on roads, making for a slippery and sluggish commute,” Borchardt mentioned.

The counties underneath advisory had been all anticipated to see some snowfall with the very best totals — about 1 to 2 inches — anticipated nearer to Lake Michigan, although totals didn’t attain anyplace near that within the metropolis, based on the climate service. Temperatures had been anticipated to slide into the excessive teenagers Monday evening inflicting the small quantity of precipitation to stay to surfaces.

“Something that’s untreated, whether or not that’s a roadway, a sidewalk or a parking zone, that’s going to be fairly slick,” Borchardt mentioned.

A Jeep and Mount Prospect Park District faculty bus carrying 51 college students and 7 grownup directors collided shortly earlier than midday Monday on I-290 eastbound close to I-390 in Itasca, based on the Illinois State Police. One of many grownup faculty bus passengers was taken to a close-by hospital after the crash; no different accidents had been reported.

Slippery situations additionally triggered a short lived floor cease at O’Hare Airport on Monday morning.

About 284 flights had been canceled at O’Hare and about 836 flights had been delayed as of Monday afternoon, based on FlightAware. At Halfway, 39 flights had been canceled and 150 flights had been delayed.

Borchardt suggested commuters to “put together for sluggish journey instances and be additional cautious.”

“Enhance your following distance between you and the vehicles in entrance of you,” Borchardt mentioned. “Give street crews as a lot area as we are able to as they’re cleansing the roads.”

“Simply take it sluggish on the market.”