As expected, the Chicago area and parts of Indiana got socked with a massive and unseasonable snowfall Sunday night into Monday morning, and it was far from over at 3:45 a.m.
A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for Cook County, parts of Will County, and northwest Indiana counties with high-impact lake-effect snow having fallen through the night.
The Winter Storm Warning is in effect through noon Monday for the entirety of Cook County, as well as eastern Will County. In Kankakee County, the warning begins at midnight Monday morning and also continues through noon Monday.
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The warning is in effect through 6 p.m. Monday for Lake and Porter counties in Indiana.
For LaPorte County, Indiana, a Winter Storm Warning was already in effect as of midday Sunday and continues until midnight Tuesday morning.
Through early Monday morning
Snow increased right off the lake through 1 a.m. Monday. The snow band reached Chicago and the North Shore, and then gradually expand south and west overnight.
Lake effect snow bands continued to strengthen through the night, producing snowfall rates up to 3 inches per hour. Â
By 12:24 a.m., visibility was down to 0.25-mile visibility at Midway International Airport with blowing snow. The National Weather Service was reporting “localized blizzard conditions.”
At 12:28 a.m., 6 inches had fallen in a period of 2.5 hours three miles north of Valparaiso, Indiana.
From 4 to 6 a.m., the snow band focuses from the North Shore to Chicago. Then, from 6-10 a.m., it’ll move its focus from Chicago to the south suburbs. Snow then pivots east to Northwest Indiana until noon.
Snow to impact Monday morning commute
Hazardous to life-threatening travel conditions will be possible throughout the morning as snowfall rates could be from 1 to 3 inches per hour. The visibility could also still drop to near-zero at times especially underneath a healthy snow band.Â
We are still on track for the heaviest snowfall accumulations in the winter storm areas.
Significant delays are expected at O’Hare and Midway international airports.
Widespread power outages are not expected, though some localized issues may occur.
Check back with CBS News Chicago for updates.
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