CHICAGO — Overnight snowfall that made for rough morning commute also set a new record for the city, according to the National Weather Service.
A little more than 5 inches of snow fell fast during the overnight hours in some southern areas of Chicago, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Stephen Rodriguez.
At O'Hare, 3.6 inches of snow was recorded, making this winter the third-snowiest on record, with 79.1 inches of snow, according to the weather service.
Though Rodriguez said the most brutal surge of snow has subsided, blowing snow likely will make travel difficult for drivers.
"Conditions are very hazardous here this morning," Rodriguez said.
Authorities responded to a number of crashes on area expressways early Wednesday morning, Illinois State Police Sgt. George Jimenez said. Most of the accidents involved property damage, Jimenez said, and no serious injuries were reported.
Metra warned travelers that the winter weather could affect service, and the agency reported some delays and a cancellation due to mechanical and weather-related issues. Those with a train to catch should check Metra's website for updates.
At 7:30 a.m., airlines at O'Hare Airport were reporting delays of up to 1½ hours for some flights, according to the city's Aviation Department. More than 280 flights were canceled at O'Hare, and about 70 flights were canceled at Midway Airport.
The city reported that it sent out a full fleet of 280 snow plows and salt spreaders to take on major streets and Lake Shore Drive before heading to neighborhood streets.
