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Biggest Snow of the Season

By Emily Morris | February 4, 2013 6:38am | Updated on February 4, 2013 11:17am

CHICAGO — The area got its largest snowfall of the season Monday, with almost 3 inches falling at O'Hare and a possible inch or more on the way in some areas.

The National Weather Service called the snowfall "the largest snow event of the season."

Flurries are expected Monday afternoon and the service reports about an 80 percent chance of more snow Tuesday morning, mainly after 7 a.m.

Over the last four days, some 4.9 inches have been measured. Total snowfall for the 2012-13 winter has been about 8.4 inches, the weather service said.

Snowfalls in the area ranged from about a half inch in Park Forest to 3.5 inches at Streamwood and Elk Grove Village.

Heavy snow made for a frustrating commute as drivers battled dangerous road conditions Monday morning and pedestrians found sidewalks slippery.

The National Weather Service had warned of a potentially dangerous morning rush hour, especially on untreated or unplowed roads. The city was set to deploy 284 plows to tackle residential streets after focusing on the main routes in the morning.

About 2.9 inches of snow had been measured at O'Hare Airport as of 9 a.m., with possible inch or so more on the way, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Matt Friedlein.

"[That] makes this one of the larger snow events of this generally quiet winter," said Friedlein, who called this snow the largest of the season.

The city was on a record streak of 335 consecutive days without an inch of snow until Jan. 25, when 1.1 inches was measured at O'Hare Airport.

Much of Monday's snow is expected to fall over the central and northern areas of the city, Friedlein said.

The weather service cautioned travelers to take some extra time due to reduced visabilities on the roads.

Several weather-related minor accidents were being investigated in the morning, leaving some motorists temporarily stranded in the chilly weather, a spokesman with Illinois State Police said. No major injuries were reported, he said.

Some flights at O'Hare Airport were experiencing weather-related delays of at least 45 minutes, and more than 70 flights were cancelled as of about 10:30 a.m., according to the Chicago Department of Aviation. Midway Airport was also experiencing delays of about 30 minutes on about two dozen flights, but no cancellations.

The snow is expected to taper off in the afternoon, but lake-enhanced snow could result in a lighter accumulation of about an inch. A high of about 27 degrees is expected.