Heavy snow, strong winds whip through Great Lakes area

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By JASON KEYSER

CHICAGO (AP) — A powerful storm brought heavy snow and biting winds to parts of the Midwest on Wednesday, leading to the cancellation of hundreds of flights in and out of Chicago and the closure of schools in districts in several states.

Airlines cancelled more than 1,000 flights to and from Chicago's major airports, O'Hare and Midway. And before noon, the snow was falling hard, leading the city to say it would deploy its full fleet of 300 snowplows for the evening rush hour.

The heaviest snow was expected to hit northern Indiana, where powerful winds blowing off of Lake Michigan could keep snow piling up past midnight and bury the area in up to 18 inches.

The winter weather warnings from the National Weather Service also stretched southwest through all of Illinois and into Missouri, where several inches had fallen by early morning, leading to school closures and downing power lines. Blizzard warnings were posted for counties in eastern Illinois and northwestern Indiana.

FULL story at link.


Traffic stands still southbound on Interstate 270 at the Dougherty Ferry Road overpass after power lines fell across the interstate, blocking access to the area as snow falls Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016, in St. Louis, Mo. Winter weather warnings from the National Weather Service stretched southwest through all of Illinois and into Missouri, where several inches of snow had fallen by early morning, leading to school closures and downing power lines. (Robert Cohen/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) EDWARDSVILLE INTELLIGENCER OUT; THE ALTON TELEGRAPH OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/a3087ac4d8764fda834682d5694ddbfe/great-lakes-area-braces-heavy-snow-strong-winds

[notadmblnd]

1. We're expecting about a foot here

It started snowing earlier than anticipated this morning, so I'm hoping it will stop early and get cleaned up before tomorrow morning. We're probably up to about 3 1/2 or 4 inches now in Southeast Michigan.

[Purveyor]

2. We have about 4" of the wet heavy stuff and it started much earlier than projected. Looking at

around 8-12" total.

A lot of weight hanging on the limbs of trees so I won't be surprised if I'm operating on backup power before this storm is over.

All and all, having a good time with it and my 12yo Husky is acting 2 again. Just hope he doesn't throw his hip out!!!

[inanna]

3. Already it is freezing rain and ice pellets.

We're expecting significant amounts of snow here.

Special weather alert put out by Environment Canada.

I'm in SW Ontario.

[Jokerman]

4. Just starting to freeze in Indy.

I'm hoping that we will dodge the worst of it.

1-3 inches of snow is all that is predicted for us but that can really suck when it is on top of ice.