Winter storm blankets Chicago, Milwaukee, reducing visibility during morning commute

On November 22, 2024By Littum

A winter storm is causing delays across the Great Lakes, including at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, where a ground delay is in place Thursday afternoon. FOX Weather’s Robert Ray reports snow rates between 1 and 2 inches and winds dropped visibility to a quarter mile, creating a mess for the morning commute in the Windy City.

CHICAGO – Heavy snow began to roll into Great Lakes cities, including Chicago and Milwaukee, Thursday during the first winter storm of the season, reducing visibility to a quarter mile during the morning commute.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, the winter storm unfolding over the Northeast, Great Lakes and Mid-Atlantic is happening a week before Thanksgiving and could affect holiday travel. A potentially record 80 million people expected to travel more than 50 miles from home this year, according to AAA.

On Thursday, the National Weather Service in Chicago issued a winter weather advisory for northeastern Illinois.

After receiving 2.7 inches of snow at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Thursday is the snowiest November day in five years. According to flight tracker Flightaware.com, more than 700 flights at Midway and O’Hare airports were delayed or canceled Thursday.

FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray was in Chicago where morning commuters faced severe conditions.

Snowfall increased during the morning, reducing visibility across Chicagoland. Between 2 and 4 inches are expected throughout the day.

Snow in Chicago on November 21, 2024 during the Thanksgiving week winter storm. (Photo: Robert Ray/FOX Weather)

(FOX Weather)

NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center said areas of snow will continue to move south over northeastern Illinois and into northwestern Indiana.

Indianapolis is included in a Winter Weather Advisory covering most of central Indiana through Thursday night, with between 1 and 2 inches of snow expected.

FOX 6 Milwaukee Chief Meteorologist Rob Haswell shared this video showing snow falling outside the studio Thursday morning. Forecasters warned residents that travel conditions were rapidly deteriorating due to the winter storm.

Southeastern Wisconsin, including Milwaukee, is under a winter weather advisory through noon CT Thursday.

Snowfall rates between 1 and 2 inches per hour and wind gusts up to 45 mph along the Interstate 94 corridor, including Madison, eastern Denmark municipalities and Milwaukee counties, are expected to have travel impacts.

A semi truck crash on Thursday, November 21, 2024 during a winter storm.

(Wisconsin State Patrol/FOX Weather)

The Wisconsin State Patrol said troopers have been responding to “numerous crashes” and runoff vehicles throughout the morning.

Snowfall outside the National Weather Service Milwaukee office on Thursday, November 21, 2024.

According to the National Weather Service in Milwaukee, visibility dropped to between a quarter and a half mile Thursday morning as heavy bands of snow moved through West Bend and Sheboygan.

The winter storm is happening during Wisconsin’s Winter Weather Awareness Week.

The NWS Milwaukee office posted some wintry scenes and said it was “intentional.”