South suburbs digging out after storm dumps up to 9 inches of snow
SUN-TIMES MEDIA WIRE January 20, 2012 10:08AM
Joshua Torrez wipes off his car as snow hits 147th Street and Cicero Avenue in Midlothian, IL on Friday January 20, 2012. | Matt Marton~Sun-Times Media
The snow storm has put Friday’s area prep sports schedule in jeopardy. Here is a list of postponed contests and makeup dates (if scheduled):
- Fenwick at St. Rita postponed to Tuesday, Jan. 24
- Carmel at Joliet Catholic postponed to Monday, Jan. 23
- IDOT road condition reports
- Weather Service Chicago area map
- National Weather Service Hourly Updates
- Will Co. Forest Preserves Recreation
- Cook County sledding
- Kendall Co. Forest Preserves
- Tips for safe sledding
Updated: January 21, 2012 9:25AM
Temperatures will warm Saturday as residents across the Chicago area dig out from Friday’s storm that dumped anywhere from 6 to 9 inches of snow.
Communities across Will and southern Cook counties reported snowfalls between 6 to 9 inches by the time the snow stopped after 10 p.m.
On Friday afternoon, Joliet Township High School and the Joliet Grade School District canceled all after-school activities. The storm caused schools to either close for the day or close early and many school districts cancelled after-school activities.
Hundreds of flights were canceled at O’Hare and Midway airports. Reports have 5.4 inches of snow at O’Hare and 6.2 inches at Midway by 9 p.m. Other totals included seven inches in Orland Hills and 6.8 inches in Downers Grove. With 9.1 inches, Joliet got hit the worst Friday.
The snow came at precisely the wrong time for evening commuters. Drivers faced commutes as long as four hours on the Edens Expressway and airlines cancelled 700 flights at O’Hare and 100 at Midway.
It caused further headaches for at least 159 motorists who sought help from Illinois Tollway workers with changing tires, charging car batteries or because they ran out of gas or got stranded.
The Illinois Tollway said it had its full fleet of 183 plows on the roadways. Also, the Tollway’s Snow Operations Center opened in the early hours on Friday morning and the Tollway had its full complement of more than 200 staff and supervisors per shift to ensure roadways are kept clear of snow and ice.
The Chicago Blackhawks’ match started about half an hour later, after the snow delayed the Florida Panthers’ team bus on its way from its downtown hotel to the United Center.
Forecasters said the snow was falling at a rate of an inch or more per hour during the storm.
Snow and rain are possible throughout the weekend in the Joliet area after Friday’s winter weather advisory, according to the National Weather Service. Saturday will bring a 40 percent chance of snow showers before noon. The day is expected to be mostly sunny, with a high near 24. Saturday night will be partly cloudy, with a low around 13.
Sunday will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 40. On Sunday night, rain is likely, with a low around 34.
Monday will be cloudy and breezy, with a chance of rain and snow.
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