Up To 6 Inches Of Snow Could Fall Christmas Eve Across Chicago Area

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A winter weather advisory remained in effect as a peppering of up to 6 inches of Christmas Eve snowfall continued to move through the Chicago area, giving way to cold and breezy conditions throughout the night and into Christmas Day.

Snow began falling about 8 a.m. in the city, and more than 3 inches of snow was on the ground by noon, according to the National Weather Service.

A winter weather advisory issued from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday in the Chicago area warned of travel difficulties, including snow-covered, slippery roads and visibility under one mile at times. The high temperature reached 24 degrees.

In Cook, DuPage and Kane counties, total snow accumulations of 2 inches in the north and 4 inches in the south are expected, according to the weather service. Will County and areas south of I-80 were expected to get up to 6 inches of snow. Bursts of more intense snowfall could occur at times, leading to accumulation rates of half an inch per hour. After 6 p.m., the area is expected to see only a dusting of additional snow.

WATCH: Snow and ice are making things a bit difficult for travelers this weekend.

For areas in northwest Indiana, a winter storm warning remained in effect until 9 p.m. Between 4 and 7 inches of snow is possible in Lake and Porter counties, with an additional inch expected to fall in the evening hours.

Inclement weather began having a more significant effect at O'Hare and Midway airports in the early evening. The average delay at O'Hare was 38 minutes, and 16 flights had been canceled by 5:15 p.m., according to the Chicago Department of Aviation. Only one flight was canceled out of midway, and the average delay was 37 minutes.

Sunday's snowfall should begin to taper off in the evening, the weather service said. About the same time, temperatures are expected to dip from the 20s into the teens, with wind chills moving into the single digits.

The weather service warned that drivers should continue to use caution as many roadways are expected to remain covered in snow into the night, causing dangerous travel conditions and visibility issues. The Illinois Tollway deployed its full fleet of 196 snowplows to combat the potentially hazardous conditions.

The last time it snowed on Christmas Eve in Chicago was in 2013, when the area saw less than half an inch accumulate. The most snowfall the Chicago area has seen on Dec. 24 was in 1918, when more than 7 inches of snow accumulated.

Christmas Day could see some additional flurries or a small amount of accumulated snowfall, the weather service said. In addition, increasing winds and temperatures that could reach negative wind chills are expected to continue through the Sunday from overnight.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2017. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)