Community Corner
Winter Storm to Hit During Evening Commute
Between 2 and 7 inches of snow and high wind gusts are predicted in the area for Thursday.
Tonight's commute could be problematic for many as Winter Storm Draco bears down on the area.
The Chicago Tribune reports the heaviest snow will fall between 3 and 9 p.m. Thursday with wind gusts reaching as high as 50 to 60 mph.
Our area could see between 3 and 7 inches of with one to two inches expected to fall per hour at the height of the storm, according to the National Weather Service.
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"The combination of the heavy snowfall rates and very strong winds will result in greatly reduced visibilities and possible blizzard conditions," according to the NWS. "Travel wil become very dangerous if not impossible as it may become difficult to keep up with snow removal."
With the hopes of keeping roads as clear as possible, the Illinois Tollway will dispatch its entire fleet of 182 snowplows Thursday, according to an Illinois Tollway news release.
Find out what's happening in Barringtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“We urge everyone to stay off the roads this afternoon and evening, if possible, but if you must drive, slow down and allow plenty of extra time for the commute home," said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur in a news release
ComEd is also prepping for a storm that could produce widespread power outages.
“This winter storm is expected to be especially damaging to our system as we face a potential combination of wind, snow and ice,” said Terence Donnelly, executive vice president and chief operating officer, ComEd. “We have increased staffing levels and proactively requested assistance from other utilities to ensure we are ready to quickly and safely begin power restoration efforts.”
At O'Hare and Midway Airport, dozens of flights have been cancelled Thursday, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Locally, District 47 has cancelled all evening school-related activities for Thursday. District 300 has also cancelled a handful of evening activities.
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