Winter storm dumps 6 inches of snow on Chicago

Chicago residents dug themselves out of several inches of snow Tuesday after a winter storm moved over the Chicago area.

O’Hare International Airport recorded six inches of snow just before 6 p.m. Tuesday after the system barreled into the region Monday afternoon.

That makes it the largest snowfall in Chicago since April 14, 2019, when 5.4 inches fell, according to the National Weather Service.

The snow was expected to continue through Tuesday evening, although the “worst is behind us,” the National Weather Service said Tuesday.

Less snow fell on Midway Airport, which recorded 4.5 inches Tuesday. But the highest totals were in the north and northwest suburbs.

Palatine was hit the hardest, with 7.3 inches of snow recorded by Tuesday evening. Seven inches of snow fell on Schaumburg and Roselle.

The south and southwest suburbs saw lower snow totals, with 2.5 inches of snow having fallen in Romeoville by Tuesday evening.

Sarah Lee clears snow off her vehicle in Edgewater as a winter snow storm batters Chicago, Tuesday morning, Jan. 26, 2021. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times

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A woman walks on North Ridge Boulevard near West Birchwood Avenue in Rogers Park after more than three inches of snow fell during a winter storm that moved through the Chicago area overnight, Tuesday morning, Jan. 26, 2021. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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A person walks along the Lakefront Trail at Oak Street Beach in the Loop, Tuesday morning, Jan. 26, 2021. Three inches of snow enveloped Chicago as the winter storm passed through northern Illinois. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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A person walks across West North Shore Avenue near North Clark Street in Rogers Park after more than three inches of snow fell during a winter storm that moved through the Chicago area overnight, Tuesday morning, Jan. 26, 2021. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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The Drake Hotel and the John Hancock Tower in the Loop is seen in this photo, Tuesday morning, Jan. 26, 2021. Three inches of snow enveloped Chicago as the winter storm passed through northern Illinois. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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A person plows snow in Edgewater, Tuesday morning, Jan. 26, 2021. Three inches of snow enveloped Chicago as the winter storm passed through northern Illinois. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times file

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A couple walks their dog along the sidewalk in Edgewater as a winter snow storm batters Chicago, Tuesday morning, Jan. 26, 2021. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times file

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A person walks along the Lakefront Trail at Oak Street Beach in the Loop, Tuesday morning, Jan. 26, 2021. Three inches of snow enveloped Chicago as the winter storm passed through northern Illinois. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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A woman walks her dog near North Ridge Boulevard and West Birchwood Avenue in Rogers Park after more than three inches of snow fell during a winter storm that moved through the Chicago area overnight, Tuesday morning, Jan. 26, 2021. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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A woman plows the sidewalk near North Ridge Boulevard and West Birchwood Avenue in Rogers Park after more than three inches of snow fell during a winter storm that moved through the Chicago area overnight, Tuesday morning, Jan. 26, 2021. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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A woman walk along the sidewalk on West Glenlake Avenue in Edgewater as a winter snow storm batters Chicago, Tuesday morning, Jan. 26, 2021. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times

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Navy Pier is seen from Oak Street Beach in the Loop, Tuesday morning, Jan. 26, 2021. Three inches of snow enveloped Chicago as the winter storm passed through northern Illinois. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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A man shovels the sidewalk near North Ridge Boulevard and West Birchwood Avenue in Rogers Park after more than three inches of snow fell during a winter storm that moved through the Chicago area overnight, Tuesday morning, Jan. 26, 2021. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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A person walks along the Lakefront Trail at Oak Street Beach in the Loop, Tuesday morning, Jan. 26, 2021. Three inches of snow enveloped Chicago as the winter storm passed through northern Illinois. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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A woman walks her dog along the sidewalk on West Glenlake Avenue in Edgewater as a winter snow storm batters Chicago, Tuesday morning, Jan. 26, 2021. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times

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A person crosses the street in Edgewater, Tuesday morning, Jan. 26, 2021. Three inches of snow enveloped Chicago as the winter storm passed through northern Illinois. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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A person walks around Edgewater, Tuesday morning, Jan. 26, 2021. Three inches of snow enveloped Chicago as the winter storm passed through northern Illinois. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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A person takes pictures along the Lakefront Trail at Oak Street Beach in the Loop, Tuesday morning, Jan. 26, 2021. Three inches of snow enveloped Chicago as the winter storm passed through northern Illinois. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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A person walks along the Lakefront Trail at Oak Street Beach in the Loop, Tuesday morning, Jan. 26, 2021. Three inches of snow enveloped Chicago as the winter storm passed through northern Illinois. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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The snow also affected regional transportation, as airlines at O’Hare reported 41 cancellations as of Tuesday evening, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation. Midway International Airport reported 32 cancellations in the last day.

About 300 salt spreaders were deployed along Chicago’s arterial routes and Lake Shore Drive, according to the Department of Streets and Sanitation. They were expected to move to residential streets once the snow stopped falling.

Due to icy conditions, the Chicago Park District closed the lakefront trails between North Avenue and Ohio Street until further notice.

Motorists were advised to drive slowly as the wind gusts and snow limited visibility.

As the storm moves over the area and temperatures dip, warming areas are available at the city’s six community service centers. They are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

A list of the community service centers can be found here.