Sudden Heavy Snow Delays Hundreds Of Flights, Causes Treacherous Travel In IL

A snow squall warning was issued Wednesday morning for parts of the Chicago area, and hundreds of flights were delayed or canceled at O'Hare and Midway airports.

A ground stop issued at O'Hare ended before 9 a.m., but FlightAware was reporting more than 270 delayed flights and 16 cancelled flights. Meanwhile, 27 flights were delayed and one canceled at Midway as of just before 9:30 a.m.

Some suburbs were issuing warnings to drivers.

"Due to the sudden heavy snowfall and deteriorating road conditions," Bolingbrook police said the village was implementing its emergency traffic crash plan, and would divert "all non-injury related crashes that do not require a tow and did not endure air bag deployment, to the police department for traffic crash report" to keep roads clear and drivers safe.

In Wheaton, officials warned residents thattemperatures were dropping fast, and ice was possible on untreated surfaces.

Accumulating snow and gusty winds are expected across Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Grundy, Lake and Will counties, with the National Weather Service warning drivers of icy conditions and poor visibility at times.

Drivers were urged to give themselves extra time to reach their destinations and be prepared for hazardous travel.

A snow squall warning remained in place for parts of central Illinois and northwest Indiana until 10 a.m. In those areas, the National Weather Service warned drivers of possible flash-freezing on roads and intense bursts of heavy snow, with gusty winds leading to blowing snow and decreased visibility.

Periods of snow showers and cold temperatures are expected through the weekend.

Temperatures will remain in the upper 20s and 30s through Friday before dropping to the teens Saturday and Sunday, with wind chills as cold as -10 degrees.