Late Friday, the National Weather Service issued a snow squall warning for numerous northern Illinois counties, warning of very hazardous driving conditions and wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour.
The warning, issued shortly after 8 p.m., is still in force for parts of Lake, DeKalb, Kane, and McHenry counties in the Chicago region, as well as Lee, Ogle, Winnebago, and Boone counties. A severe snow squall was spotted in Muskego, near Rockford Airport, and Coleta at 8:41 p.m., moving southeast at 30 miles per hour, according to forecasts.
According to the NWS, a snow squall is characterized as a brief but powerful burst of snow accompanied by high winds that can result in whiteout or near-whiteout conditions. Forecasters warn that exiting a car during a snow squall may result in serious injury or death, noting that drivers may not notice you or stop.
The National Weather Service in Romeoville tweeted Friday’s snow squall warning, the second one issued by its office this winter.
WLS-TV in Chicago reports A fast-moving cyclone dumped heavy snow on the Chicago region Friday evening, forcing the National Weather Service to issue snow squall warnings. According to ABC7 meteorologist Cheryl Scott, a snow squall is characterized as a brief but powerful burst of snow coupled by high gusts that can result in whiteout or near-whiteout conditions.
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The snow squall line passed across the Chicago region at 10:30 p.m. and was brief but strong. Because the system was so unstable, Doppler 7 MAX Radar detected lightning strikes in southeast Wisconsin.
Drivers were advised to stay off the roads until the snow squalls passed. So yet, no collisions have been recorded as a result of the squalls.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for most of the Chicago region, citing blowing snow as a source of concern.
Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Will, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle, and Lee counties in Illinois, as well as Lake and Porter counties in Indiana, are under a weather advisory until 9 a.m. Saturday.
The Chicago region was digging out Friday following a winter snowstorm that covered the area, with northwest Indiana receiving the most snowfall accumulation.
Total snowfall
Rensselaer – 8 inches
hobart 7.5 inches
Streator 6 inches
Morocco – 9 inches
Porter – 5.5 inches
Schererville – 5.0 inches
Lincolnwood – 4.5 inches
Naperville – 4.0 inches
Oak Lawn – 3.9 inches
Carbon Hill – 3.2 inches
Chatsworth – 5.0 inches
Lansing – 4.7 inches
Drivers faced near-blizzard-like conditions in the thick of the storm, with snow drifting sideways.
The day began with heavy rain, but as the afternoon progressed, snow and high winds blew in.
Some communities were still working on clean-up efforts before the morning commute on Friday morning.
The Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation switched 287 salt spreaders to begin cleaning snow from residential streets overnight.
The weather caused major issues at the city’s airports. More than 380 flights were canceled at O’Hare on Thursday, with more than 140 cancellations at Midway. As of 10:42 a.m. Friday, O’Hare reported 113 flights canceled, with 11 planes canceled at Midway.