Winter Storm Update: What Buffalo Grove Area Residents Need To Know

BUFFALO GROVE, IL — Officials are urging local residents to keep a close eye on weather updates and reconsider traveling for the holidays as a winter storm slated to hit Buffalo Grove and the Chicago area could lead to whiteout conditions and make driving treacherous.

Across Chicagoland, some schools have already opted to close on Thursday, including District 106 in Bannockburn. Find the most updated school closings here.

The National Weather Service in Chicago issued a winter storm warning covering Lake County starting from noon Thursday through 6 a.m. Saturday. The Chicago area could expect between 2 to 5 inches of snow and wind gusts of up to 50 mph, which could lead to whiteout conditions and zero visibility at times.

Wind chill values could also drop to 25 to 35 degrees below zero from Thursday night to Friday night. Officials say power outages are possible due to the strong wind gusts, and roads could quickly become ice-covered starting Thursday afternoon as temps begin to drop.

RELATED: Timing Of Major Winter Storm Moved Up: When It Could Hit Illinois

Officials with the Lake County Division of Transportation are urging residents to keep a close eye on the changing weather forecast and adjust their holiday travel plans accordingly.

Scott Hill, who will celebrate his 25th year with Lake County Division of Transportation Thursday,
said the county's plow trucks will be out in full force during the winter storm. The Lake County DOT is responsible for plowing more than 280 miles of county highways. Other roadways are the responsibility of the Illinois Department of Transportation, townships or municipal government.

"We have a major snowstorm moving in this week. Our plow trucks will be out there, drivers please allow them plenty of room to maneuver," said Hill in a video posted to the division of transportation's Facebook page.

LCDOT has 26 plow routes, with each of them having one dedicated plow, and those routes can be found online by checking out the county's snow plow route map, Alex Carr, deputy communications officer in Lake County, told Patch.

Carr said plow drivers will be out around the clock during the winter storm.

"We have a full stock of supplies and are ready for the storm. We are incredibly fortunate to have a full crew that will work in rotating shifts," Carr said in an email. "We ask for everyone to please be patient, give our plow drivers plenty of room on the roads, and drive safely. At the end of the day, we’re all in this together."

Those wishing to get updates on road conditions should keep an eye on these websites or download the following apps:

• The Lake County PASSAGE website provides real-time, local traffic information. Through PASSAGE you can also sign up for email traffic alerts, twitter alerts, and smartphone apps. Another feature that can be helpful when winter weather strikes is the ability to view camera images from intersections.
• The Lake County Sheriff's Office app, Facebook page and website are good sites to keep an eye on for updates and alerts during winter storms.
• The Illinois Department of Transportation manages the Getting Around Illinois website, where you will be able to find updates Thursday and Friday regarding road conditions throughout the state.

Strong Winds May Lead to Power Outages

ComEd urges customers to contact the company immediately if they experience a power outage. To report an outage, call 1-800-EDISON1, go to ComEd.com or use the ComEd Mobile App to report their outages.

Warming shelters are available to individuals in need. Lake County has a list of warming shelters here.

Patch will provide regular updates during this week's winter storm. Be sure to sign up for our email alerts and download the Patch app for the latest.

Patch staff contributed to this story.