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Best Times To Visit Chicago

The best times to visit Chicago are April through May and between September and October, when the temperatures are warm, a variety of festivals take place and crowds are manageable. Summer marks Chicago's peak tourist and  festival season , with travelers from around the country hoping to take advantage of the warm weather and abundant activities. You'll find higher lodging rates during these seasons, but you'll also escape Chicago's notoriously bitter winters. Chicago experiences frigid temperatures from November to March, but if you can hack it, hotel and airfare deals are easy to find.

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Weather | Chicago weather: Latest updates on the extreme…

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Weather | Chicago weather: Latest updates on the extreme cold, travel delays, closures and more

E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune

Morgan McLuckie hands out blankets to homeless with Andy Robledo, many who are using the winterized tents Robledo has provided, at Clinton and Lake streets in the Fulton Market neighborhood, Dec. 23, 2022.

Michael Blackshire / Chicago Tribune

David D'Angelo is covered in snow as he skates at Millennium Park's ice rink in downtown Chicago during the winter storm on Dec. 22, 2022.

Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune

Some flights at O'Hare International Airport on Dec. 22, 2022 ahead of a winter storm.

Delilah Thomas, 8, looks in amazement at the snow falling during the winter storm on Dec. 22, 2022, in Chicago.

Travelers wait for their flight at O'Hare International Airport on Dec. 22, 2022.

Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune

A homeless individual exits her winterized tent, built by Andy Robledo, under a viaduct near Fulton Street and Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago on Dec. 20, 2022.

Morgan McLuckie and Andy Robledo hand out blankets to homeless, many who are using the winterized tents Robledo has provided, at Clinton and Lake streets in the Fulton Market neighborhood, Dec. 23, 2022.

Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune

In single-digit temperatures, Dan Haupert, of Crystal Lake, stands at his father's, William Haupert, grave and recites mass to him and the deceased around him at St. Michael The Archangel Catholic Cemetery on Dec. 19, 2022, in Palatine. Many of the graves, like Haupert's, are adorned with wreaths and Christmas decorations. Haupert even uses his father's own prayer book. Haupert said, "I'm not a priest but it helps keep the bond going between us. This is my time to be at peace with him."

Pedestrians battle the cold and wind as they make their way through downtown Chicago during the winter storm.

A woman covers her face to shield herself from the sub-zero wind chills on Dec. 23, 2022 in Chicago.

Emily Colfer and her dog, Archie, stand in the dog line in Terminal 1 at Chicago O'Hare International Airport on Dec. 21, 2022. Colfer and her pup were on their way to Maine for the holiday season.

Blake Lewison crosses North Clark Street for a cappuccino on Dec. 23, 2022. Lewison, transplanted from Florida a year ago, said he thought he had acclimated to the Chicago weather until he felt his contact lenses freezing.

Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune

A person braves the cold and snowy weather while walking down Addison Street in Wrigleyville as a winter storm hits Chicago on Dec. 22, 2022.

A pedestrian crosses Randolph Street near Millennium Park as steam rises in the arctic cold on Dec. 23, 2022.

Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune

Pawan Kumar Jha, left, unloads items while his daughter Krisha Jha, 7, sits in the basket as the family checks out at Patel Brothers grocery store in Chicago on Dec. 21, 2022, a day before a winter storm is expected to pass through the area.

Glenn Odom and his sons Rowan, 13, and Bren, 10, make a run for donuts in the Lincoln Park neighborhood before hunkering down in their home on Dec. 23, 2022.

Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune

Students leave Back of the Yards College Preparatory High School at West 47th Street and Hoyne Avenue in Chicago at the end of the school day as snow falls on Dec. 22, 2022.

Hannah Lawson puts up holiday decorations as her dog, Delta, stands beside her in Chicago's Wrigleyville neighborhood during the arrival of a winter storm on Dec. 22, 2022.

Bundled up family members walk along the lakefront near Solidarity Drive in Chicago as temperatures hover in the low teens on Dec. 19, 2022.

Eduardo Aguilar, left, and Morgan McLuckie hand out blankets to the homeless, many who are using the winterized tents homeless advocate Andy Robledo has provided, at Clinton and Lake streets in the Fulton Market neighborhood on Dec. 23, 2022.

Holiday travelers walk to their gates at O'Hare International Airport on Dec. 22, 2022 ahead of a winter storm.

Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune

Thomas Beeney, 50, uses a heater inside his winterized tent on North Milwaukee Avenue on Dec. 20, 2022, in Chicago. Beeney, who is homeless, had recently received several bottles of propane from his friend Shawn Scott, who lives in a tent near Beeney, which allowed him to run his heater for a few minutes inside his tent.

Areya Gonzalez, 7, throws an exploding snowball at her mother, Taissa Gonzalez, in Wrigleyville as a winter storm hits Chicago on Dec. 22, 2022.

People pass the shuttered Christkindlmarket in the Daley Plaza during the winter storm on Dec. 22, 2022.

A person crosses the street at Clark Street and Diversey Parkway as a winter storm hits Chicago on Dec. 22, 2022.

Michael Blackshire/Chicago Tribune/TNS

Arnida Edmonson wipes snow from her car during the aftermath of the winter storm on Dec. 23, 2022, in Chicago.

West Lawn volunteer Lorena Paredes helps clear snow from in front of houses in the 3900 block of W. 61st Street in Chicago on Dec. 22, 2022. One of the residents on the block is a man in his 80s. "It's our responsibility to take care of one another. Especially our seniors and those with disabilities," said organizer Eddie Guillen, a longtime resident of West Lawn and a volunteer with the West Lawn neighbors watch.

Holiday travelers pass through O'Hare International Airport on Dec. 22, 2022 in advance of a winter storm.

Arnida Edmonson wipes snow from her car during the aftermath of the winter storm on Dec. 23, 2022 in Chicago.

Pedestrians battle the cold and wind chills as they make their way through downtown during the winter storm on Dec. 22, 2022.

A Streets and Sanitation salt spreader passes along the 2100 block of West Harrison Street in Chicago on Dec. 22, 2022.

Akeem Khan uses a snowblower to clear his walkway in his neighborhood during the aftermath of the winter storm on Dec. 23, 2022 in Chicago.

Students shield themselves from blowing snow as they leave Back of the Yards College Preparatory High School on Dec. 22, 2022.

A bundled up person crosses over the Adams Street Bridge near Chicago's Union Station as temperatures hover in the low teens on Dec. 19, 2022.

A person heads across the Adams Street Bridge during temperatures in the teens on Dec. 19, 2022.

E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune

A runner jogs along the outer harbor near Navy Pier, Dec. 23, 2022.

Leilany Mejia and Erik Roa hurry through the cold and wind for a date at the Signature Room on Dec. 23, 2022, in Chicago.

Last-minute shoppers hurry through the cold on North Michigan Avenue on Dec. 23, 2022.

De-icing equipment is staged and ready at O'Hare International Airport on Dec. 22, 2022.

Aircraft are treated with de-icing solution at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago before a light takes off ahead of a winter storm on Dec. 22, 2022.

Andres Garduno, left, has a snowball fight with his son Matteo Jimenez Garduno during the winter storm at Millennium Park ice rink on Dec. 22, 2022. They're both from Mexico.

People wait to board an approaching bus in the cold and snow at Clark and Diversey a winter storm on Dec. 22, 2022.

Taylor O'Brien holds one of her chickens during the winter storm at her home in Chicago on Dec. 22, 2022. Her family is putting bales of hay in the run where the coop is located to block some of the strong winds.

Holiday travelers move through check-in and security process in Terminal 1 at Chicago O'Hare International Airport on Dec. 21, 2022.

A pedestrian battles the cold and wind downtown during the storm on Dec. 22, 2022.

Areya Gonzalez, 7, makes a snow angel on Seminary Avenue in Wrigleyville as a winter storm hits Chicago on Dec. 22, 2022. The Gonzalez family, of Huntsville, Alabama, is in Chicago visiting family for the holidays.

As brutally cold temperatures settled over Chicagoland Friday, most residents have hunkered down in the safety of their homes or workspaces. But for the unhoused, they have little choice but to face the weather head on.

Volunteers from Feeding People Through Plants handed out blankets, hand warmers, hot food and other necessities Friday, as most of the people living in winterized tents decided to stay in their shelters instead of abandoning them for warming centers. They were concerned about leaving their belongings behind or many can’t access transportation to get to shelters, they told the Tribune.

Volunteers found one man shaking, only wearing light clothes, including a t-shirt, and a small blanket. They restocked him with warm clothes and two heaters.

“I went out yesterday from 9 am to 4 pm giving everybody propane. Everybody should be okay. But they’re living in a tent and it’s negative 30 degree wind chills,” Morgan McLuckie, a volunteer, said.

At Roosevelt Road and Des Plaines Street, strong wind swept an encampment along the road. One cat sought shelter inside an abandoned one.

Conditions were slightly milder at another encampment at an underpass on Clinton and Lake. One tent with an mattress was covered in burn marks. It caught fire after from candle lit inside, said Andy Robledo, founder of the nonprofit. A man living inside the tent is in a wheelchair.

“These are the hazardous conditions that the city create by not getting people housed, creating a situation that’s hazardous for people experiencing street homelessness because they have to subject themselves to these cold temperatures, but also they’re resorting to whatever they have to do to stay warm,” Robledo said.

Conditions were not expected to improve anytime soon.

National Weather Service meteorologist Kevin Doom said that flurries are possible Friday, as well as a light snow shower in the evening, he said. He warned that winds between 35 to 45 mph will blow the snow that’s on the ground, creating visibility issues. Later in the afternoon, winds could reach up to 50 mph.

“We’re already seeing a lot of pictures, a lot of videos from people on social media,” Doom said, “(with) very rough road conditions, despite not actually seeing any falling snow, so we don’t want people to be fooled by the fact that there’s really not going to be much falling snow today.”

Wind chills Friday morning reached 35 to 40 degrees below zero.

“Even during the warmest part of the day, 25 to 35 below wind chills are what we’re looking at and the actual temperature is actually expected to stay below zero,” Doom said.

It’ll get warmer Saturday and Sunday, but not noticeably so, as wind chills will likely reach below zero during the holiday weekend.

However, if temperatures reach 50 degrees late next week as expected, it could feel up to 90 degrees warmer than it did Friday morning.

Despite the frigid temperatures and blowing snow, some people throughout the south and southwest suburbs still braved the weather to run errands and gather with friends ahead of the Christmas holiday.

At about 11:15 a.m. Friday, the parking lot at Egg Headz Cafe in Tinley Park was packed despite the negative temperatures outside. Manager Peter Mastorakos said there was a steady flow of customers since the restaurant opened at 6:30 a.m.

“People still go out. It’s going to stop a lot of people, but there’s people who have to go to work or go out. They don’t change their routine,” Mastorakos said.

Flight cancellations continued Friday morning at Chicago’s airports. As of 2:15 p.m., 475 canceled flights were reported at O’Hare International Airport, and 311 at Midway, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation.

Meanwhile, the Illinois State Police warned bridges and ramps were slick Friday morning, and asked motorists to slow down and leave plenty of space between vehicles.

A multicar crash on Interstate 294 involving two semitrailers shut down the southbound lanes at milepost 10. But all lanes recently reopened.

The Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation deployed more than 200 snow vehicles Friday morning to begin clearing residential streets. Salt spreaders had been working since the storm began Thursday morning to ensure the roads were safe for emergency vehicles, public buses and motorists, according to a news release.

Chicago residents can view the city’s snow fleet in real time at chicagoshovels.org .

The extreme cold and slick road conditions were expected to remain a factor Friday, and officials urged residents to take precautions while traveling.

The Chicago Transit Authority buses returned to DuSable Lake Shore Drive around midday, the agency said. It had rerouted buses off the drive Thursday afternoon and Friday morning.

The Blue, Brown and Orange lines were running with delays, after track switching problems caused problems during morning rush hour. Shuttle buses continued to replace Orange Line service between Pulaski and Midway.

Metra trains were also delayed on several lines throughout the day Friday because of problems with switches, mechanical failures and, on the Metra Electric line, problems with wires. Wires and rails can contract in extreme cold and cause damage, Metra said on its website, and ice and winds can also cause problems for trains.

The South Shore commuter line to Northern Indiana suspended much of its service Friday afternoon because of mechanical issues, problems with the overhead wires and the weather. All westbound service was suspended Friday afternoon. The last train that would arrive in Chicago was Train 18, originally scheduled to arrive at 2:14 p.m.

Eastbound trains 111, scheduled to depart Millennium Station at 4:02 p.m., and 119, scheduled to leave at 5:58 p.m., were the only remaining trains that would run Friday, the service said. One train already enroute at 3 p.m. was halted, and passengers were to be bused instead.

Indiana State Police asked everyone to delay nonessential travel in Northwest Indiana.

Police Friday afternoon discouraged motorist from traveling on I-94 east toward Michigan.  Troopers were on the scene of a rollover tanker at mile marker 24.2, the Burns Harbor exit.

The accident was a hazardous material situation requiring an offload of the contents prior to the vehicle being moved, state police said. There was no timetable provided for how long removal would take, said police.

Also. I-94 was closed in Michigan at exit 4, due to numerous crashes due to the weather. Police said they were concerned as traffic continued to back up that motorists would become stranded in arctic temperatures.

Troopers were working on scenes of active crashes on I-65 and I-94, and observed vehicles failing to slow down, causing spinouts and crashes. A trooper was struck in Lowell, Ind., and Indianapolis had three stuck while investigating traffic crashes.

Frostbite dangers

Health officials advised that people who must go outside should wear a hat, face mask and gloves, as well as three layers covering the upper body and two layers below the waist.

Emily Young, marketing and communications manager for the Lake County Health Department, said in an email frostbite and hypothermia are serious potential dangers arising from too much exposure to cold.

Young said numbness, white or grayish skin around a person’s face, fingers and toes are signs of frostbite, as well as waxy skin. Body heat is one good way warm the affected areas. A heating pad is discouraged. Carr said exposure to extreme cold for 10 or 20 minutes can cause frostbite.

Dr. Ninad Dixit, chief medical officer for Vista Health System in Waukegan, said frostbite and hypothermia can happen very quickly if skin is exposed in extreme cold like the temperatures forecast the next few days.

“If you are out in the cold, self-care could include a warm soak and anti-inflammatory medications such as Ibuprofen in recommended dose,” Dixit said in the email. “Don’t use direct heat on the skin. Seek immediate medical attention if there is no improvement.”

Shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech or drowsiness are all symptoms of hypothermia. Young said the treatment is different from that for frostbite.

“Go to a warm room,” Young said. “Warm the center of the body first — chest, neck, head and groin. Keep dry and wrapped up in warm blankets, including the head and neck.”

Warming centers

The Chicago Park District will open field house locations as warming centers during regular operating hours Thursday and Friday. Holiday hours will begin Saturday and can be found online .

The Salvation Army Freedom Center, 825 N. Christiana Ave., and Mayfair Community Center, 5020 N. Pulaski Road, will operate as warming centers Friday and Saturday for residents needing a safe place to shelter during the storm, the Salvation Army said in a news release.

While Cook County courthouses will be closed for most legal business, three courthouse buildings are being opened as warming centers. Those who lack adequate heat can take shelter there starting 5 p.m. Thursday through 8 a.m. Monday. The available locations are:

Skokie Courthouse: 5600 Old Orchard Road

Maywood Courthouse: 1500 Maybrook Drive

Markham Courthouse: 16501 S. Kedzie Ave.

Chicago is also operating warming centers throughout the city. Residents can dial 311 for the location of their nearest warming center.

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Home protection

Friday afternoon plumbers were flooded with calls from customers dealing with frozen pipes.

Jordan Blanton from J. Blanton Plumbers warned homeowners to get ahead of the problem, and call immediately before pipes unthaw leading to further damage if water pours into your property.

Thursday night, Blanton was on a service call till 4 a.m. Friday morning because of the extreme temperatures, he said.

“This time is the busiest time of year for us, it’s really important to get out in front of this,” he said. “The phone starts ringing off the hook. By this time tomorrow we would have received 500 calls.”

Blanton said all plumbers take an oath to protect the health of the nation.

“We take our job very seriously, and while it may be very lucrative, its very painful to see so many dealing with frozen pipes,” he said.

Blanton said customers should leave a trickle of water coming from faucets to prevent frozen pipes and added that hot water lines are the first to freeze.

Steps to prevent pipes from freezing and bursting during the cold-weather months:

– Keep interior doors open (this allows the heat to circulate throughout your home more efficiently).

– If you have ceiling fans, flip the switch in reverse to draw the air down and warm the room.

– Keep garage doors shut, especially if there are water lines in the garage (which tends be colder than other areas of the house).

– Close outdoor vents, such as in attics or crawlspaces, to prevent cold exterior air from penetrating your home.

– Disconnect all outside water hoses and let cold water trickle out of faucets in unheated areas or where pipes run on an exterior wall, as this can help relieve any pressure building from ice inside a pipe.

Friday was already a scheduled nonattendance day for CPS students.

On Thursday, several Chicago area school districts announced closures in preparation for extreme weather.

Some of Chicago’s popular holiday traditions will be closing early due to the expected blizzard-like conditions and extreme cold :

Adler Planetarium: Closed Friday through Sunday.

American Blues Theater: Ended its run of “It’s A Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!” Shows for today and Friday are canceled.

Chicago Botanic Garden: Closed Friday through Sunday. Lightscape is canceled today and Friday. Ticket holders will be contacted by email with more information.

Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier: Closed Friday and Saturday.

Chicago History Museum: Closed Friday through Sunday.

Chicago Transit Authority’s Holiday Bus : Last two runs on #29 State and #J14 Jeffrey Jump — scheduled for Friday — are canceled .

Christkindlmarket: The Daley Plaza and Aurora locations closed and will not reopen again this season. The Wrigleyville location is closed today through Sunday, but reopens at 11 a.m., Dec. 26.

Courthouses: Most Cook County courthouse activities will cease on Friday, with the exception of adult bail hearings at the Leighton Criminal Court Building and juvenile detention hearings. The circuit court clerk’s office will also be closed. The Lake County courthouse in Waukegan closed at noon Thursday and was to remain inactive Friday other than remote bond court at 9 a.m. However, the Skokie, Markham and Maywood courthouses are open through Monday morning as warming centers.

Field Museum: Remains closed Friday . Shortened hours Saturday. Closed Sunday.

Lakefront Trail: The Park District’s Lakefront Trail has been closed from Oak Street to Ohio Street, and access from the Chicago Avenue underpass will not be available until further notice. Other areas hit by high waves could also be cordoned off by the Park District in the coming days.

Lincoln Park Zoo: Closed Friday and ZooLights canceled until Saturday.

McCormick Tribune Ice Rink at Millennium Park: Closed Friday and Saturday.

Maggie Daley Park Ice Skating Ribbon: Closed Friday.

Shedd Aquarium: Closed at 2 p.m. today. Closed Friday and Saturday.

Winterland at Gallagher Way: Closed today through Sunday. Reopens Dec. 26.

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Chicago weather: Much of area prepares for dangerous cold, wind chill warnings

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Light, but blowing snow continued to fall in the Chicago area on Saturday morning as temperatures dip and strong winds make their way in.

Another round of snow is expected to move into the area on Saturday evening, said ABC7 Chicago Meteorologist Greg Dutra. Up to 1 inch of snow is possible.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Winds will continue to ramp up and wind chills will continue to fall on Saturday night. Air temperatures will be -5 to -10 degrees with wind chills even colder.

Looking ahead, dangerous wind chills as low as -30 degrees are expected this coming week, prompting the National Weather Service to issue wind chill warnings and advisories for much of the Chicago area between Sunday and Wednesday.

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for Illinois' Boone, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, southern Will and Winnebago counties as well as Lake County, Indiana from 6 p.m. Saturday until 3 a.m. Sunday.

A Wind Chill Warning will be in effect for Illinois' Boone, DeKalb, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle, Lee, Ogle, Will and Winnebago counties from midnight Sunday until noon Sunday.

A Wind Chill Advisory will be in effect for Illinois' Boone, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Lake, LaSalle, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Will and Winnebago counties and Northwest Indiana's Lake and Porter counties from noon Sunday until 9 a.m. Wednesday. The advisory will be in effect for Indiana's Benton, Jasper and Newton counties until Monday at noon.

Here's your 3-day forecast:

Sunday : AccuWeather Alert: Very cold with -15 to -25 degree wind chills. High: 3, Low: -9

Monday : AccuWeather Alert: Very cold with -20 to -30 degree wind chills. High: -1, Low: -9

Tuesday : AccuWeather Alert: Very cold with -20 to -30 degree wind chills. High: 0, Low: -4

Temperatures dropped into the mid-20s in Chicago on Saturday, making untreated surfaces slick and created areas of possible black ice .

Temperatures will continue to fall late Saturday afternoon and evening, making for a frigid night with lows between 1 and 5 degrees.

Warming centers open as temperatures drop

Chicago activated its warming centers through Wednesday.

The centers open when temperatures are 32 degrees. They are available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Warming centers include the Inspiration Corporation at 4554 N Broadway #207, La Casa Norte at 1736 W 47th St, Lincoln Park Community Services at 1521 N Sedwick St, the Matthew House at 3722 S Indiana, the Broadway Youth Center at 1023 W. Irving Park Road and the Covenant House at 2934 W. Lake Street.

The Harold Washington Library has opened the lower level as a 24/7 warming center through Jan. 17 for anyone in need. At least 66 new migrant arrivals have been moved there as they await permanent shelter placement.

The Garfield Center at 10 S. Kedzie is open 24 hours to help families find emergency shelter. The Chicago Department of Family & Support Services has also expanded outreach teams to encourage unhoused residents to seek shelter or warming options as they conduct well-being checks.

Here are links to lists of warming centers in other Chicago-area counties:

Warming centers in

• Cook County

will be open 24/7 through Wednesday.

• DuPage County
• Will County
• McHenry County
• Lake County (IL)
• Kane County
• Kendall County

Gary, Indiana said it has also opened warming centers, including the Calumet Township Multi-Purpose facility, Ambridge-Mann Community Center, Brother's Keeper, Restoration House Shelter for Men and Serenity House.

Chicagoans prepare for bitter cold

Temperatures began to fall from the double digits on Saturday, making it just plain miserable for some, but not Abigail Jacob, who enjoyed the Millennium Park ice rink.

"The winter's really nice. This is, like, my first time ice skating," Jacob said.

Some embraced the season.

"What's the cold for? It's for skating. Whenever an opportunity comes around, you got to get it," said ice skater Moises Alvarez Garza.

But there are still warnings that the cold could be dangerous.

With sub-zero temperatures on the way, city officials encouraged the public to take precautions and avoid being outside for extended periods of time. Veterinarian Dr. Farrin Dilland says that goes for pets too, warning about their exposure to ice melt and road salt.

"The salt is painful, and so if they are walking on it and it's stabbing their feet, that's really uncomfortable, and so they can get wounds that way, and they can get their paw pads torn up that way as well," Dilland said.

Forecasters say we should expect wind chills between -15 to -30 degrees are expected to come this week, along with strong winds.

"Some ice melt, shovels, stuff for the car, cleaning up the car to make sure we're good," said Chicago resident Jason Braid.

Braid and his wife, Meritee, have been stocking up for their first winter in Chicago and hardware stores, like the ACE over on Maple Street, are busy.

"That's one of the things people have the biggest appetite for, is to make sure they're prepared for that once the temperature does drop," said Mark Molinaro with ACE Hardware.

Those like street salesman Darion Jones, who is choosing to tough out the weather, expect it to be brutal.

He's hoping that warm weather gear and some positive thoughts will help him stay warm and safe.

"You see, I got my snow pants on. I got my gloves, hand warmers, three coats, jackets. I'm going to be warm. I'm going to try to do it," Jones said.

Snow causes travel delays into Saturday

This comes after wet snow and rain fell across the Chicago area earlier this week, causing travel delays and dangerous road conditions.

At about 2 p.m. Friday, there were 4.4 inches of snow at O'Hare airport, making Friday the biggest one day snow in nearly two years, said ABC7 Chicago Meteorologist Larry Mowry.

The last time there was this much snow was Feb. 2, 2022, Mowry said.

Time-lapse: Snow storm leaves Chicago roads covered

Most areas away from the lake saw 3 to 6 inches, with some isolated higher amounts.

The winter storm led to a full ground stop at O'Hare airport Friday due to snow and ice. The ground stop was lifted at 8 a.m.

About 860 flights were canceled at O'Hare Friday and about 281 flights were canceled Midway.

So far Saturday, 212 flights have been cancelled at O'Hare, along with another 20 at Midway.

Friday's storm causes power outages

Thousands were without power Friday, as heavy snow downed electric lines.

As of about 6:30 a.m. Saturday, ComEd said nearly 2,000 people were with out power.

Anyone dealing with a power outage should text "out" to 266-33.

At least 34 Chicago Public Schools were without power at one point Friday. The district canceled after-school and out-of-school activities Friday and Saturday.

Some sporting events for Monday have been canceled as well. As crews work to restore power through the weekend before the anticipated bitter cold snap starts, the CEO of CPS acknowledged Monday activities are still a question mark.

"Even though it's a holiday, we have MLK activities, we have sports activities. We'll be making those decisions as early as possible this weekend because our fear is, as we look at coming into Monday, now we're looking at wind chill, we're looking at temperatures; that might create other challenges for us," Pedro Martinez said.

In the far north suburbs, it was snowing all day Friday and overnight into Saturday.

The Illinois Department of Transportation said many of the major roads there are partly or mostly snow-covered. Local roads are likely in worse shape.

Deerfield residents were digging out Saturday morning after the mid-January winter blast that blanketed neighborhoods in snow.

Watch: Heavy snowfall in Deerfield

"I love snow," said Gena Andreasen, who used a shovel. "I was so happy, so happy."

Neighbors wasted no time Saturday, making the most of the morning sun to clear driveways and sidewalks.

"We're doing not bad," said Gary Katz, who used a snowblower to clear his driveway. "There's no wind right now, so it's easy to be out."

The roar of snowblowers filled neighborhood streets. Katz said Saturday's snow was easier to clear than on Friday.

"It's very fluffy today," Katz said. "Right now, the snow blows really far. Yesterday it was just wet."

For others, like Andrew Pines, the best idea was to grab a shovel just as the sun rose to beat the frigid temperatures.

"It's really not that big of a deal," Pines said. "We were expecting like 14 inches and this is like 2."

The Illinois Department of Transportation said the roads in Lake County were among the hardest hit.

"The goal here today was to get this all cleared up before it gets super cold, because I don't want to deal with it when it is frozen," Pines said.

Ross Biank and his fourth-grade son worked as a team to clear their Deerfield driveway, wishing more snow had fallen.

"We're doing pretty good," Biank said. "We're shoveling out. A little disappointed yesterday that we didn't have more snow, but it seems to be pretty easy."

With another wave of frigid winter weather packing sub-zero wind chills, Ross and others in Deerfield are trying to make sure the snow is clear before it freezes over.

We're from Chicago. We're not worried about it," Biank said. "We just keep going, you know?"

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Watch CBS News

Colder weather coming to Chicago area

By Mary Kay Kleist

April 24, 2024 / 11:58 AM CDT / CBS Chicago

CHICAGO (CBS) — Clearing skies through Wednesday afternoon, but temperatures will struggle with the chilly wind flow off the 50-degree lake. 

The normal high is 62 degrees. 

With clear skies and light wind Wednesday night, a Freeze Watch will be in effect for areas far northwest and near the Wisconsin line.

One more dry day on Thursday until a storm complex heads our way for the weekend.

By Friday afternoon, conditions go downhill as showers and storms take shape. The Friday evening rush will be breezy and wet. 

We will watch the storm track as the system comes together and moves in our direction to determine severe chances.

TODAY: CLEARING SKIES. CHILLY WIND. HIGH 48.

TONIGHT: CLEAR & COLD. LOW 34.

THURSDAY: MOSTLY SUNNY. COOLER LAKESIDE. HIGH 59.

• First Alert Weather

Meteorologist Mary Kay Kleist can be seen on CBS News Chicago and weeknights on CBS2 News at 5 p.m.

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Canceled or delayed flight? You're now owed a cash refund, DOT says

Airlines still will be allowed to offer another flight or a travel credit instead, but consumers can reject the offer, by the associated press • published 4 hours ago • updated 4 hours ago.

The Biden administration issued final rules Wednesday to require airlines to automatically issue cash refunds for things like delayed flights and to better disclose fees for baggage or canceling a reservation.

The Transportation Department said airlines will be required to provide automatic cash refunds within a few days for canceled flights and “significant” delays.

Watch NBC Chicago local news and weather for free 24/7

Under current regulations, airlines decide how long a delay must last before triggering refunds. The administration is removing that wiggle room by defining a significant delay as lasting at least three hours for domestic flights and six hours for international ones.

Airlines still will be allowed to offer another flight or a travel credit instead, but consumers can reject the offer.

Feeling out of the loop? We'll catch you up on the Chicago news you need to know. Sign up for the weekly Chicago Catch-Up newsletter here.

The rule will also apply to refunds of checked-bag fees if the bag isn’t delivered within 12 hours for domestic flights or 15 to 30 hours for international flights. And it will apply to fees for things such as seat selection or an internet connection if the airline fails to provide the service.

Complaints about refunds skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic, as airlines canceled flights and, even when they didn’t, many people didn’t feel safe sharing a plane cabin with other passengers.

Airlines for America, a trade group for large U.S. carriers, noted that refund complaints to the Transportation Department have fallen sharply since mid-2020. A spokesperson for the group said airlines “offer a range of options — including fully refundable fares — to increase accessibility to air travel and to help customers make ticket selections that best fit their needs.”

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Active weather pattern on the way for Chicago with warmer temperatures, rain, storms

The group said the 11 largest U.S. airlines issued $43 billion in customer refunds from 2020 through 2023.

The Transportation Department issued a separate rule requiring airlines and ticket agents to disclose upfront what they charge for checked and carry-on bags and canceling or changing a reservation. On airline websites, the fees must be shown the first time customers see a price and schedule.

The rule will also oblige airlines to tell passengers they have a guaranteed seat they are not required to pay extra for, although it does not bar airlines from charging people to choose specific seats. Many airlines now charge extra for certain spots, including exit-row seats and those near the front of the cabin.

The agency said the rule will save consumers more than $500 million a year.

Airlines for America said its members “offer transparency and vast choice to consumers” from their first search.

The new rules will take effect over the next two years. They are part of a broad administration attack on what President Joe Biden calls “junk fees.” Last week, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced that his department will let state officials in 15 states help enforce federal airline consumer protection laws.

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