A New Year’s Day snowstorm made its way over the Chicago area, creating dangerous travel conditions that stalled hundreds of flights and resulted in closings in the city as it threatened to tip several inches of snow.

Here is the latest on what’s happening in the area as the heaviest snow begins to fall:

7:10 p.m.: Previous snowfall figures

Although the snow is unlikely to stop anytime soon, the snow sums are starting to come.

Here are the totals reported to the National Weather Service to date.

4:20 p.m .: Evanston reminds residents of off-street parking

With inches of snow expected in the area, the City of Evanston reminded residents of the free parking available.

Since the city expects 5 to 7 inches of snow, off-street parking is recommended to create extra space for snow plows.

Free parking facilities are listed below:

  • Downtown parking garage on Maple Ave. 1800 to Thursday, January 6, 11:59 p.m.
  • Evanston Township High School 1 and 1A parking lots. Motorists should enter the parking lots from Davis Street east of Dodge Avenue.
  • AMITA Health offers Evanston residents free parking in its multi-storey car park on Sherman Avenue and Austin Street.

The following municipal parking spaces are also included:

  • Lot 3, 1700 Chicago Ave.
  • Lot 4, Central Street on Stewart Avenue (paid seats only)
  • Lot 16, 800/900 Noyes St. on the CTA track
  • Lot 24, 727 Hauptstr.
  • Lot 25, 1614 Maple Ave. (only by the meter)
  • Lot 27, 1621 Eichenallee.
  • Lot 51, 927 Noyes St. (measured spaces only)
  • Lot 54, Central Street Subway Station

From snow to air, Saturday’s blizzard was a real challenge for those traveling through the region. Vi Nguyen from NBC 5 reports.

4:06 p.m .: Chicago officials issue a warning regarding travel conditions

NotifyChicago: According to NWS, the storm is affecting road conditions, be careful when driving and keep a safe distance from other vehicles.

– Chicago OEMC (@ChicagoOEMC) January 1, 2022

3:50 p.m .: Chicago’s Street Department switches to the fresh snow program phase

When the city of Chicago was hit by snow on Saturday afternoon, the Department of Streets and Sanitation activated its Phase 3 snow program and increased the number of salt shakers across the city to 287.

DSS staff will continue to monitor the weather and ground conditions, and adjust snow resources if necessary, according to a press release from department officials.

Residents are advised to stay at home, but if travel is required, they are encouraged to drive and reduce speed according to the conditions.

3:00 p.m .: Winter Weather Warning begins for some counties in northwest Indiana

ONE Winter weather warning comes into force in some counties in northwest Indiana, including Newton and Jasper.

The recommendation, which stays in effect through 6 a.m. CT Sunday morning, warns of 1 to 4 inch buildup as rain turns to snow all afternoon and evening.

2:50 p.m .: Huntley enforces no parking with more than two inches of snow on the ground

The no parking in the village is in effect as there is more than 5 cm of snow on the ground. No vehicles may be parked on the streets so that the plow wagons can clean the snow efficiently and safely. If you or a friend have a car on the road, please move it immediately.

– Huntley Village (@HuntleyIllinois) January 1, 2022

2:17 pm: Chicago Park District closes portions of the Lakefront Trail

#ChiLFT Warning 🚨: Due to high waves, slippery road surfaces and dangerous conditions, the following sections of the lakeside path are CLOSED:
🚫Oak St. to Ohio St.
🚫Fullerton Avenue to North Avenue.
🚫Access to the underpass on Chicago Ave.
For your own safety, please observe the warning notices. pic.twitter.com/pWlc7VsEEX

– Chicago ParkDistrict (@ChicagoParks) January 1, 2022

2 p.m.: In some counties, the heaviest snow begins

For districts for which the earliest winter storm warning applies, the heaviest snowfall is expected between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

These include McHenry, DeKalb, Kane, LaSalle, Kendall, Grundy, and Will Counties in Illinois.

2 p.m.: Thousands of flights canceled

More than 1,000 flights have been reported as canceled in Chicago on Saturday afternoon when a snow storm made its way into the area on New Years Day.

As of 2:00 p.m., O’Hare International Airport had reported 844 cancellations while Midway Airport had another 273 cancellations.

Chicago is said to be among the worst in the country due to wintry weather if the vacation is canceled.

12 o’clock. Other counties are now under winter storm warning

The alert begins at 12 p.m. CT in Lake, DuPage, and Cook Counties of Illinois. along with Lake and Porter Counties in Indiana. There is also currently a winter storm warning in Kenosha County, Wisconsin.

The occasionally heavy snow could also turn into drifting snow and make travel dangerous, the warning said. Overall gatherings of 5 to 9 inches are expected along with gusts of wind of up to 40 miles per hour in the afternoon and evening, especially along the lakeshore.

The warning lasts until 6 a.m. CT on Sunday.

A winter weather warning is currently in effect in LaPorte County, Indiana. The warning, which stays in place through Sunday noon, warns of snow build-ups between 5 and 7 inches, with higher amounts being recorded in some locations, particularly near Lake Michigan.

9 a.m.: Winter storm warning has come into force

A winter storm warning began at 9 a.m. in McHenry, DeKalb, Kane, LaSalle, Kendall, Grundy, and Will Counties of Illinois.

It warns of snow accumulations between 10 and 20 centimeters with gusts of wind of up to 56 km / h in the afternoon and evening.

“Travel could be very difficult,” the warning reads. “Snow drifts after sundown on Saturday could significantly restrict the view, especially in open terrain.”

The warning applies to these counties until midnight.

8:30 a.m. Chicago’s transportation department is using hundreds of salt shakers

At 8:30 am on Saturday, the Chicago Department of Roads and Sanitation announced it was activating its “Phase II snow program using 211 salt shakers in response to a winter system that will result in snow all day and night.” become.

The salt shakers will focus on Chicago’s major thoroughfares and Lake Shore Drive before being relocated to secondary roads, the department said.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR