Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Overnight Snowstorm Causes Some CTA Train Delays

By Josh McGhee | January 6, 2015 9:15am
 Chicago is in a deep freeze.
Chicago is in a deep freeze.
View Full Caption
Getty Images/Scott Olson

CHICAGO — After a few months of teasing, that ugly winter weather Chicagoans have been bracing for is finally here.

About 2 inches of snow accumulated at O'Hare overnight, according to Amy Seeley, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service.

But the snowfall wasn't enough for a snow day off for Chicago Public Schools, with school officials warning kids via Twitter to bundle up for the trip into classes.

As of 9 a.m. Tuesday, there were no plans to cancel classes on Wednesday, but CPS will continue to monitor weather conditions, CPS spokeswoman Lauren Huffman said.

If school is canceled for CPS, parents will be notified by a robocall. Parents can also check social media for updates, Huffman said.

Commuters looking to take the "L" into work should also allow extra travel time, as the CTA has reported delays on "L" lines across the city.

Metra also reported delays on the South Side's Electric Line because of a switching problem near 65th Street and Kensington Avenue.

The commuter rail agency was using switch heaters to thaw out several portions of tracks Tuesday morning to help avoid major delays. Switch heaters were used near Western Avenue and Hubbard Street/Artesian Avenue, said Tom Miller, a spokesman for Metra.

"We've had some delays on [the Electric Line] and a lot of smaller stuff, but nothing major," Miller said.

Two inches of snow had already fallen on the city Sunday night after a warmer than usual December that saw less than an inch of snowfall. And Monday night's snowfall might not be the last we get this week: There is a 20 percent chance of snow on Thursday, Seeley said.

By Tuesday night, it could get as cold as 4 below zero, with even more blowing snow as winds could reach up to 35 mph. The blustery winds could bring the wind chill down to 24 below zero or  29 below zero by Wednesday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

The full fleet of 280 snowplows was deployed Monday night, focusing on salting and clearing main roads before clearing neighborhood streets, according to the city's website.

O'Hare was reporting normal operations with a few delays but no cancellations as of 7:30 a.m. Tuesday. Midway was experiencing a few delays and no cancellations, according to the Aviation Department.

For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here: