Jan. 12--The Chicago area got 1 to 3 inches of snow overnight, but areas to the south and east got pelted with freezing rain and sleet that was making travel dangerous.
The Illinois State Police said at least 10 troopers were called to crashes and spinouts on Interstates 57 and 72 in Champaign County on Monday morning.
"Freezing rain and snow have caused interstates, U.S. routes and state highways to be covered with snow, ice and slush, making driving conditions difficult," the state police said in an advisory issued around 6:30 a.m. "Slow down."
Winter weather advisories were in effect Monday morning along Interstate 70 from Missouri east through a good portion of Illinois and Indiana. Slick patches were also reported Interstate 80.
In the Chicago area, expressways were generally clear, but rush-hour traffic was slow on most roads. A string of accidents were reported on eastbound Interstate 80-94.
Metra reported delays on two of its lines.
A Burlington Northern Sante Fe train was stopped for mechanical problems around Hinsdale, causing delays up to an hour. And trains on the Metra Electric line were running 15 minutes late because of mechanical problems.
The CTA was reporting no major delays.
An overnight storm left 2.6 inches of snow at O'Hare International Airport. Other accumulations: 3 inches in DeKalb, 3 inches in Bartlett, 1.4 inches at Midway Airport and 0.7 inches in Romeoville.
Following is the forecast for the next several days from WGN-TV's Chicago Weather Center.
Monday: Remnant clouds and a little light snow possible early as snow and clouds pull away to the east. Becoming partly sunny and colder. Winds pick up out of the north to northeast, gusting at times to 25 mph. Temps fall during the day from near 20 early morning to the lower teens by evening. Chance of light lake-effect snow showers along the south end of Lake Michigan. Clearing and cold Monday night with single-digit low temperatures.
Tuesday: Some passing cloudiness but mainly sunny. Cold with highs struggling to reach 20 degrees. Very cold overnight with clear skies. Subzero lows inland ranging to zero to 5 above near the lake. Light easterly winds.
Wednesday: Temperatures begin to moderate under mainly sunny skies as readings reach the middle/upper 20s. Light winds gradually becoming southerly.
Thursday: Readings continue to slowly moderate as highs peak just shy of the freezing mark. Southwest winds 8-15 mph.
Friday: Even milder as temperatures break freezing for the first time since Jan. 4. Partly sunny with brisk west-southwest winds 12-22 mph.
Saturday: As winds continue out of the west -- southwest under partly sunny skies, temperatures will warm up close to the 40-degree mark despite the remaining snow cover.
Sunday: Sun breaks through from time to time, but cloudy skies for the most part. Highest temperatures 35 to 40 degrees. West to southwest winds continue.
