CHICAGO _ As a winter storm barreled into the Chicago region, the Federal Aviation Administration imposed a ground-stop at O'Hare International Airport on Friday evening, halting all takeoffs and landings.
The stop did not immediately affect Midway Airport, said city Department of Aviation spokeswoman Karen Pride. It was unclear how long the stop may be, or how many flights it immediately affected, but hundreds of flights had already been canceled Friday evening.
Wind-swept snow belted Chicago on Friday afternoon and evening, making roadways a mess and forcing commuters to slosh through the wintry mix as they trekked across the area.
The winter storm hit the Chicago area just in time for the evening commute Friday, with snow beginning about 4 p.m. The area could see as much as 5 inches of snow before the storm moves out early Saturday morning, according to the National Weather Service.
"When it gets here, it's going to come hard and fast," said Kevin Donofrio, a meteorologist with the weather service. "The roads will become slush very quickly."
Airlines at Chicago's two major airports reported cancellations and delays Friday as a winter weather advisory was in effect.
As of 7 p.m., 615 flights had been canceled at O'Hare and 159 at Midway in the last 24 hours, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation.
As temperatures increase Friday night, the snow will likely turn to sleet or freezing rain, according to the weather service. It also will be windy Friday night, with gusts as strong as 25 mph, compounding low visibility while snow falls, according to forecasters.
