2021 off to a slippery start with ice, snow

The storm system will exit the Chicago area Friday evening, after dropping approximately 1-3 inches of snowfall.

CHICAGO - A Winter Weather Advisory was in effect on New Year's Day until midnight for several counties, including Cook, DuPage, Lake and Will. The advisory also included the city of Chicago.

"I’ve seen all kinds of weather...you prepare for it, you think ahead of time and you dress accordingly," said North Side resident Gary Sargent.

Initially, an Ice Storm Warning was issued for Grundy, La Salle, Kankakee and Iroquois counties, which was supposed to be in effect until 6 p.m. However, that warning was eventually replaced with a Winter Weather Advisory.

Icing due to sleet and freezing rain were at their worst south of Chicago, where more than a quarter of an inch of ice seemed likely.

Highs on Friday barely cracked freezing, so any "plain rain" was limited. The storm was mainly an ice and snow event.

The storm system will exit the Chicago area Friday evening, after dropping approximately 1-3 inches of snowfall. The heaviest snowfall would occur in the northwest. There was expected to be more snow falling in the north and more ice in the south.

About 211 snowplows cleared Chicago streets on Friday. A majority of main roads and side streets had already been salted by late afternoon.

On Saturday, it will be dry during the day with temperatures in the mid-30s, but the next weaker system arrives at night with maybe an inch or so of snow for southern counties.