Chilly, Snowy Night Prompts Dangerous Driving Conditions
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CHICAGO (STMW) - Snow showers in the Chicago area are causing some dangerous driving conditions on an especially chilly Friday night.
The low at 8:30 p.m. dipped to just 12 degrees, feeling more like five below, the National Weather Service said.
Along with the bitter cold, light to moderate snow is falling across northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana and will continue to fall into early Saturday, the weather service said.
Chicago area residents will see occasional snow showers, mainly before midnight.
The snow is producing reduced visibility and slippery conditions on roadways that are not treated, the weather service said. Snow amounts of up to an inch are possible.
The city's Dept. of Streets & Sanitation has increased its number of snow trucks on Chicago's main route system to 174 as of about 8 p.m. Snow command put out 40 trucks at 3 p.m. to monitor bridge decks and overpasses to assist rush hour traffic. a release from the department said. The trucks will "stay out as long as necessary."
On Chicago's expressways, Illinois State Police are investigating at least 20 "pending crashes" as of 8:45 p.m., according to a state trooper. He said that number included actual crashes, spin outs and motorists calling for help.
