E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSNBC's Bill Karins and the Weather Channel's Mike Seidel report.
Updated at 5:30 p.m. ET: Airlines at O'Hare and Midway airports are now reporting significant delays. At O'Hare airlines are reporting delays averaging 45 minutes for all flights in and out of the airport. The number of canceled flights now totals more than 600.
Meanwhile, in Chicago, the Transit Authority has rerouted buses off of Lake Shore Drive, affecting a total of 15 routes. Buses are being rerouted to nearby streets and will continue to make all local stops, according to the Chicago Transit Authority.
Updated at 3:30 p.m. ET: Snow was falling heavily by midafternoon in Chicago as a winter storm spread east, NBCChicago.com reported.
Though no significant delays were reported, airlines at O'Hare Airport canceled more than 300 flights, NBCChicago.com said. At Midway Airport, Southwest Airlines canceled all 70 of its flights scheduled between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Friday.
The Chicago Department of Aviation urged passengers to check airline websites for status updates.
The Milwaukee area was seeing light snow at midday, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.
Original story: Snow is forecast for Chicago, Milwaukee and other Midwestern cities Friday as a winter system travels toward the Northeast, according to The Weather Channel.
Snowfall accumulation may exceed 6 inches across the Chicago metropolitan area.
Late Friday into Friday night, the snow system will move across northern Indiana, northern Ohio and Michigan on its way to the Northeast.
A mixture of freezing rain and sleet is possible as far south as Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, according to weather reports.
Snow changing to rain or sleet is projected for Philadelphia and New York City, and Boston will likely see 1 to 3 inches of snow.
Toppled trees
This winter weather system comes two days after a major storm covered the Pacific Northwest in snow. An ice storm in the Seattle area shut down the airport and toppled trees -- cutting power to some 200,000 homes and businesses, cutting off roads and taking the life of a man on his ATV.
Temperatures are now slowly rising in the Pacific Northwest, the National Weather Service reports, but more wet weather is anticipated on Friday. A warm front over the Oregon and Washington coast will allow for rain showers to persist.
Up to 2 inches of rain may be expected across these areas.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News
Leave a Comment:
Welcome to the wonderful world of winter in the midwest and northeast!! I'm ready for spring already!
I can't wait for spring to come too! My dad works outside, and drives all day. I hope this storm isn't too bad...
my aunt and uncle just moved from chicago, i we just had lunch and mentioned that chicago might get 6 inches of snow, she blankly stared at me saying..."ANNNND?" like i had a punchline to a joke, she explained "6 inches of snow in chicago is like a slight dusting of snow in memphis. It doesn't do any damage and is nice to look at until stupid people get out and start driving."
my aunt and uncle just moved from chicago, i we just had lunch and mentioned to my Aunt that chicago might get 6 inches of snow, she blankly stared at me saying..."ANNNND?" like i had a punchline to a joke, she explained "6 inches of snow in chicago is like a slight dusting of snow in memphis. It doesn't do any damage and is nice to look at until stupid people get out and start driving."
Snowmobiling today after work!!!! But I love the spring walleyes and first ice out is awesome as well.
.... wow...! Snow in the Midwest... what a concept...! What's hilarious about it is the people...
Duhhhhh.... I wonder if it's going to be like the kind of snow that fell last year... in the Midwest... or like it was the year before... or the year before that... or the year before that... or.... if it will be the kind of snow that we'll get next year... or the next year after that... or the next year after that...?
how the freak did that post twice? *shrug*
I live in Chicago and absolutely love the snow we're getting right now. We already had about 4 inches on the ground from snow storms last week and we'll probably be up to 10-12 inches by the end of the night. I drive in the city even when it snows and it's always fine as long as you aren't a moron behind the wheel. Everybody slows down and is usually pretty nice about letting each other in and leaving a good buffer between cars. I always laugh at the idiots that go crazy trying to pass people in the snow, those people usually end up in the ditch pretty fast. As long as you keep your head and don't get in a big hurry, driving in the snow is easy. Chicagoans usually think of it as a bonding experience with the other drivers around them.
The Midwest, (the part that produces the bulk of the nation's food is not getting the snow they need for the spring melt. The results could be a tough year for farmers--and the consumer.
It's only January 20th.
and planting season is in late March early april
Yeah, but Greenwood, this is some of the first snow they're seeing. I grew up in the Midwest and now live in CA. During my childhood, I ALWAYS had white Christmases, and sometimes Thanksgivings, and sometimes Halloween's too!! This year as I flew over Minnesota and Wisconsin, everything was still brown and green. There was only a dusting of snow on my parents' lawn -- and this is Northern Wisconsin. They really aren't getting the snow they used to or need.
Wow...snow in the Northeast in January, who would have thought?
Yeah, must be that global warming thing they keep yappin' about.
wagonmaster - way to completely misinterpret what Sue was saying. She was pointing out how people overreact to snow in the Middle of Winter (like you just did). If you really think global warming is false just because there is still snow in the NORTH in JANUARY, you need to go back to school.
Alaska is just sharing...
Alaska has endured record-breaking snow fall – some 300 inches this year...
The native people of Alaska have twenty-seven words for "snow", all of which are terribly vulgar and cannot be repeated...
Bring on the snow! If it is going to be cold outdoors I want to be able to look out and see the beauty of the white covered spruce trees.
mhm! Nothing beats heating up a cup of coffee, then sitting out on the porch, wrapped up in a warm blanket, watching and listening to the snow falling. It's surprising how snow can make nearly any place serene and quiet.
I'm right in the middle of all this white stuff and sick of shoveling already. Come on Spring!!!!
I'm with you. Last year in MA, we got hit with a snowstorm once a week for five weeks straight, and at one point had a few feet of snow in out front yard. I'm hoping this year will be a mild winter. We got hit with a snowstorm on Oct 28th that was pretty bad (knocked out power for over a week in the area), and we've gotten a few inches here and there, but so far, it hasn't been bad. And I'd like it to stay that way, at least for one year.
High of 78 on Saturday in Houston.
Well..........last year, the big topic was the weather. Looks like Mother Nature is gearing up for more havoc. Get used to it people! Travel safe and enjoy the snow.
Snow, sleet target Midwest and Northeast.Headline makes it sound like there is an intelligence behined this storm directing it. When in fact here it comes and we are just in its path. We are expecting 6" of snow here and on monday it will be 60 degrees. I believe it's called winter.
Well, sarge, the media simply loves to melofdramatize everything on this old terra firma.
They are totally non-regulated and dictate to the rest of us pawns"from on high." We NEVER hear about their blunders or errors, publicly, yet they exploit the livin' daylights out of everyone else.
What a life, eh, man?!
Can I ask why its such abig deal? Its winter time shouldnt we be getting snow? I do believe Colorado has gotten a pretty good amount but youi dont here about snow here. So whats the big deal?
because we have had NONE this year until this storm went through and temps were spring like
I was assigned to Fort Greely Alaska this amount of snow there would have barely been noticed!
i am originally from the seattle area and live in louisiana now. bring the snow! i'm so damn jealous. we havent had snow for a few years now.
Matt that was a freak storm we don't usually get snow every year in New Orleans!
I love cold weather I'm jealous too! I hate summer time here! it's hot!
@good vs evil the amount of snow there saying was really not a freak amount they get snow like that usually evry winter .im from wash an i drove in it for years commercially.the only part i didnt like was the people that drove in it .u get in seattle traffic an they drive like there afraid of it or u get the canadians on the freeway an u could b killed .
It is currently sunny and 71 degrees in Beaumont, TX.
To Jerry King,There's always a smart a$$ around.Just funnin with you!It was 10 degrees when i got up this morning in Ohio.
Tony: What Jerry King doesn't tell you is that Texas has been in a severe drought for how long? Where you or I can go out to the lake and take a swim the best he can hope for is a nice mud bath!
Five degrees with a windchill of -12 here in the northwestern part of Ohio this morning. Oh yeah and about 4" of snow.
GeoEngineering!!!
At least this company who received stimulus money is actually doing something with it!!!
To Jerry King,There's always a smart a$$ around. Just kiddin with you. It was 10 degrees when i got up this morning in Ohio
To all of those wanting snow, I hope that you get enough to have your fun and enjoyment your after. For those wishing for spring it is still a while away and it will come soon enough. Hope that this storm does not give way to rain, that would mean more power lines down and people out of power(due to icing) for god knows how long. Just get ready the best way you can to make it through this one. I can say that this type of winter storm is not like we get in Alaska.To me I prefer the dry cold to this wet cold.( goes right to my bones) stay safe an warm people.
Safe and warm, I retired to live in Beautiful Costa Rica, 82 degrees today just finished cutting the grass and cleaning the pool, Paradise now to pop some ICE in a glass and sip a cool one.
Wanna trade?
I retired in Isan Thailand...
Light rain last night, mid 70's this morning, and currently low 80's. I might rain once again prior to Apr, which is NORMAL weather for the last thousand or so years...
I just paid my electric & water bills, $30+USD total. NO rent or taxes, I built a 2,000+sq ft two story house for $35,000+USD. Universal health care cost my family $1+USD a visit...
BTY - Isan has NO; floods, fires, extreme weather, or worries about drug dealers/gangs...
You can enjoy your four seasons... Ha! Ha!
Alaska was my past and hopefully future paradise. Of course it's hard work and expensive, but it's humbling and you see great places and meet great people. And good grief I miss those mountains!
A couple downsides are you tend to be as pale as the snow and you'd die within a few hours of being exposed to 90-100 degree weather ;)
Indiana summer was NOT easy for me! Bring on the snow!
I blame Obama! Always sending that snow up north for the 1%'er's and his corporate overlords. What about the common man in Virginia?!
For the idiots who took this serious, this is sarcasm.
TBeast: And here I thought it was a cheese sandwich!
And a bicycle fell over in China.
For that matter a frog farted in PERU too!!!!!!!!!!!!!
good thing i live in south texas we are 81 right now and lovin it!!
To all the Snow Birds...enjoy your snow and learn how to drive.
So much for Global Warming. Damn, I was just on the verge of caving on this one, too.
So when are people going to realize that a snow or ice storm does not mean global warming is not happening?!
Oh, that's right. Fat, bloated loud mouths with no evidence means it "is not happening".
Looks like a normal winter to me...took awhile for the pattern to change...now it might be stormy till spring.
UhOh! Someone squashed a beautiful butterfly in the Amazon.:)
We're all suffering through our own versions of "winter hell;" drought, too much rain, too little rain, too much snow, not enough snow, too hot, too cold. Guess no matter how many decades I've lived, and where, on this planet we call home, it's never been "perfect." Seems to me, just gonna have to live with it, as we sure can't control it.
Gotta agree with the wife though, we do need more snow, just to prevent the frost from getting down to the water pipes, plus to support the ski industry, big in this part of the northeast.
To add to the many sage comments already made, please people, take it easy. Roads can become very treacherous very quickly in weather like this.
If ya got a job you are blessed, wreck the cars and buy another one. If that many people can afford to go on a skingg trip---then maybe , just maybe the gap between the have and have nots is getting bigger. It an obama problem, a bush problem, a clinton problem.
I like white meat.
I like cat with my rice, also...
Bumper stickers: Cat, the other white meat. So few cats, so many recipes. If you're looking for your cat, look under my tires.
Ok so everyone collectively "THINK SPRING!"
Why "think spring"? We haven't even had winter here in NJ yet!
Looking forward to that little bit of snow we might be getting - just so my son can wear those brand-new snow pants and boots at least once this year!
No storm here in Kansas its gonna miss us Yeaaaa !! I can't stand winter we are enjoying nice weather and good road conditions and low heating bills , while all the schmucks in the upper Midwest and east get the hell froze out of them
This cannot be true we have global warming. Where's the tropical weather? I feel cheated. I should be able to get some type of compensation for this. Does this mean I have to cancel my trip to the north pole. I so much wanted to go waterskiing. Now I guess I will just keep working to pay other peoples compensation. When do I get a break? This country is just not fair. I guess I will have to start voting Republician. If they ever find someone who is worth running. I was thinking Jesse Jackson he would make a good president and he could beat obama.
For those of you in Texas that want to brag about how warm it is, remember this with your drought conditions on a nice day you can go to the lake and roll in mud if you are lucky. Everywhere else we can fish, swim, water ski or any of a number of activities that involve having an actual lake. So you can have your 72 degrees and mud holes, I'll take a couple inches of snow now again and be happy for it. Keeps the lake levels up.
Well, Sarge, we live one block from Galveston Bay, and it will be 75 or so Saturday here, and we have all the salt water we could ever want. Plenty of big fish, too. And I will take a fresh flounder or speckled trout over any freshwater fish anywhere, except for fresh rainbow trout, the best eating there is.
Crazy when a normal snowstorm makes headlines. Here in beautiful Great Falls, MT we were below zero for over 80 hours straight and PMSNBC had nothing to say about the weather for us. Friggin' liberal elitists!
Hello Ray, Great Falls, Mt. here also. Don't we feel sorry for these weak people?