Snow falls on Chicago area

The first snowfall of the season struck over the weekend. Sunday several inches fell in the Chicago area, but the City was ready.

Deputy Commissioner of Streets and Sanitation Cole Stallard said Sunday morning they were sending 210 snow plows out during the storm and had pretreated the roads Friday with beet juice. Once the snow stopped and the main roads were cleared, the crews then moved on to residential streets in the city.

The sledding hill at Caldwell Woods on the city's Northwest side was a busy with families as parents planned a last-minute trip outdoors.

“We've been playing with our friends, doing snowball fights, building a snowman,” said David Kauke who was busy sledding with this brother and two neighbors.

Some spent the afternoon outdoors working, like John Chismorie. He was on his ATV plowing driveways and roads in his Edgebrook neighborhood.  

“I personally enjoy it. Others don't,” said Chismorie. “It’s one of those things you have to get used to when you live in Chicago.”

Unless you were in an ATV, getting around wasn't exactly easy on Sunday. Most highways were backed up and downright dangerous in Kane County.

Several drivers found themselves taking an unfortunate detour.

“I was the first one actually and then the car behind me went into the ditch as I was talking to a cop,” said Erika Larson. “Then there was a white car behind me that went off the ditch.”

Crews will work overnight to make sure the roads are safe for the Monday morning commute.

Stallard said this year his department has 374,000 tons of salt for the winter. He said it’s a good time to remind drivers to give plow truck drivers plenty of room on the road.

The weather also impacting travel at the airports today – there were more than 250 canceled flights at O’Hare and another 65 at Midway.