Winter Storm Update: What Highland Park Area Residents Need To Know

HIGHLAND PARK, 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 Highland Park and the Chicago area could lead to whiteout conditions and make driving treacherous.

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.

• 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."

In Highland Park, public sidewalks routes will be plowed after an accumulation of at least 4 inches of snow in a process that begins after plowing is complete. Motorists were asked to avoid parking on the street until after roads are cleared to allow for plows to pass through.

City staff asked residents to consider clearing snow away from areas around fire hydrants to potentially save precious time if firefighters respond to a fire in the area. Residents were also encouraged to check on their neighbors, especially those who live alone. A police well-being check can be requested by calling the non-emergency line at 847-432-7730.

The Highland Park Public Works Department can be reached at 847.432.0807. To report a Public Works concern after hours, please call the public safety non-emergency line at 847.432.7730.

Highland Park city code forbids pushing snow or ice onto public streets, with an exception for plow operators who deposit snow on city-owned parkways on the same side of the street and adjacent to the property where the snow was collected. More information is available from the city's public works department.

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.

Local warming centers may be activated to help out residents in need. Locations in Highland Park include:

• City Hall, 1707 St. Johns Ave., during weekday business hours
• The Highland Park Police Department, 1677 Old Deerfield Road, 24 hours a day
• Makom Solel Lakeside, 1301 Clavey Road, which can be reached at 847-433-3555 during the day and via the public safety line at 847-432-7730 during evening hours.
• Trinity Grace Church, 1506 Half Day Road, can be reached afterhours by calling the non-emergency line at 847-432-7730.

Before going to a center, residents should call in advance to confirm availability and hours. Other locations can be found on the Lake County website.

North Shore School District 112 officials announced plans for an e-learning day Thursday. All campuses and offices closed and staff will work remotely. Thursday will be an early release day ahead of Friday's scheduled start of winter break.

NSSD112 Superintendent Mike Lubelfeld said families are allowed to use their best judgement when determining how to implement Thursday's asynchronous e-learning day.

"We are not seeking a 'perfect' academic day, we’re trying to do the best we can without adding another day to the school year. We also empathize with working parents who simply may not be able to juggle their work duties with their child’s E-Learning (please make the best decisions for your family - we understand)," Lubelfeld said in a message to parents and guardians.

"NSSD112 acknowledges the inconvenience this decision may cause and we appreciate your understanding. As you can imagine, these decisions are not easy as we are just approaching the winter season."

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.