First snowfall of the season hits Chicago

A woman crosses the street at West Randolph and North Clark streets in the Loop as the first snowfall of the season hits Chicago, Monday morning, Oct. 26, 2020. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

The Chicago area saw its first snowfall of the season as a mix of snow and light precipitation moved through the area Monday morning.

O’Hare and Midway airports both reported light snow between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m., according to the National Weather Service.

The snowfall picked up again about 10 a.m. in Chicago and was expected to last until noon to 1 p.m., according to weather service meteorologist Casey Sullivan.

However, the city is not expected to see much, if any, accumulation, he said.

Light snow continues this morning. Locally slick spots north and west of Chicago, and reduced visibility to 1 mile. #ilwx #inwx pic.twitter.com/VmaquxPHwU

— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) October 26, 2020

The weather service hadn’t recorded snowfall above a “trace” amount Monday morning, but weather spotters around Chicago were reporting small accumulation, Sullivan said. Slushy accumulation was spotted on car windows in west suburban Downers Grove, while grassy accumulation of a tenth inch was spotted in Aurora, he said.

A late October snowfall is about average for the Chicago area, which records its first trace amount of snow, on average, Oct. 30, Sullivan said.

Rain may continue into the afternoon and evening, possibly mixing with snow Monday night, the weather service said. Temperatures in the city are expected to hit 42 degrees Monday before dropping to 31 degrees overnight.

The forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday calls for sunny skies with high temperatures in the 40s and 50s.

A man walks near the Thompson Center at West Randolph and North Clark streets in the Loop as the first snowfall of the season hits Chicago, Monday morning, Oct. 26, 2020.