Much of the Chicago area is under a Winter Storm Warning Sunday night into Monday.
CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago-area residents woke up to some snow flakes falling and overall wet driving conditions early Sunday morning.
Most Chicago-area locations will see less than 1 inch of slushy coating on Sunday, while parts of northwest Indiana could see 1 to 3 inches. Heavier snowfall was also expected to possibly move into parts of the Chicago area late Sunday.
Chicagoans have just about entered hibernation with not many people walking around the city Sunday night. Drivers were already feeling the impact with some shaky conditions on the roads.
Temperatures also dipped into the 30s on Sunday, with gusty winds up to 35 mph making it feel like it is in the 20s. They are expected to drop even further, into the 20s, on Sunday night area wide.
ABC7 meteorologists issued an AccuWeather Alert for Sunday night through Monday, as possible snowfall could create dangerous travel conditions on Sunday evening, overnight, and during the Monday morning commute.
Areas under a Winter Storm Warning (listed below) could see between 3 and 6 inches of snow. Some locations could see much more, depending on how the lake effect band sets up, said ABC7 Chicago AccuWeather Meteorologist Greg Dutra.
Dutra said the Chicago area is expected to see a widespread initial punch of snow between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. Sunday, likely closer to 11 p.m. That first round will likely drop a quick 1 to 2 inches of snow.
The second batch is the first batch of lake-effect snow. It is expected to be a quick spray, in which some locals could tally up to an inch or so of snowfall. Where that snow falls depends on where the lake-effect snow band sets up, which is most likely to be close to the lake in northwest Indiana.
The third round is expected to drop the most snowfall during the Monday morning commute.
And light, on-and-off snow showers could linger through Monday's afternoon hours, said ABC7 Chicago AccuWeather Meteorologist Jaisol Martinez.
FULL FORECAST: Chicago weather: AccuWeather Alert: Snow/wind early Monday
Some schools in the Chicago area and Northwest Indiana announced school closures and start delays for Monday in response to the expected snowfall.
The incoming storm, combined with the FAA reduction in operations this week, has also made air travel quite frustrating coming in and out of Chicago. More than 400 flights have been canceled at Chicago airports on Sunday, with extensive delays impacting travelers.
The City of Chicago's Department of Streets and Sanitation announced it is deploying salt-spreader trucks to respond to the potential severe winter weather road conditions, and the city is encouraging residents to take precautions while driving.
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for LaPorte County from 4 p.m. Sunday to midnight Tuesday.
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for Indiana's Lake and Porter counties from 9 p.m. Sunday to 6 p.m. Monday.
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for Illinois' Lake County from 9 p.m. Sunday until 6 a.m. Monday.
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for Cook and Will counties from 9 p.m. Sunday until noon Monday.
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for Kankakee County from midnight to noon Monday.
A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for DuPage and Will counties from 9 p.m. Sunday until noon on Monday.
A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for Indiana's Newton and Jasper counties from midnight to 6 p.m. Monday.
Everyone in the Chicago area is now bracing for a long winter ahead.
"I have my jacket and my scarf and I'm still not ready for it I need my gloves and my hat," Laura Klein said. "Feeling the weather, I'm not ready for it. I think it's a little bit too early, and I'm not ready for the snow at all, so I'm hoping we don't get much."
It's always a harsh reminder walking outside ahead of the first winter storm of the season. The first snowfall arrived Saturday night into early Sunday, with more flurries coming down Sunday evening.
"Oh my God, it's just come out of nowhere, but this is Chicago and things change every day," Jim Perlman said.
Even for lifelong Chicagoans, the first wave of blistering weather is always tough to take in.
"We had a beautiful fall and we live in Chicago, so it's a reality, but I'd rather it be in December and January… not November," David Feldman said.
