RADAR: Track the winter storm with LIVE Doppler7 MAX
Snow overspread northern Illinois late Tuesday afternoon and piled up quickly in the suburbs as snow fell at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour in some areas.
As of 9 p.m., Carol Stream reported 4.5 inches, Elburn 4.2 inches, Aurora 3.6 inches, Naperville 3.5 inches, Romeoville 3.2 inches, and Elk Grove Village 3 inches.
WATCH: Latest ABC7 AccuWeather Forecast
The heaviest accumulations will be in the northwest suburbs, where some parts of McHenry and DeKalb counties could see as much as 8 inches of snow.
Snowfall amounts upwards of 4 inches are possible north of Interstate 88, but only about 1 to 3 inches are expected across the south suburbs and northwest Indiana.
STORM TIMELINE:
Between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m., the snow began to mix with sleet and freezing rain. Ice accumulations of up to two-tenths of an inch are also possible just inland away from the Lake Michigan shore.
After 4 a.m., the precipitation changed to all rain for much of the area as temperatures rose above freezing.
Total snow and sleet accumulations of 1 to 4 inches are expected, with the highest snowfall amounts expected along I-88 and north. Areas in the city could see about two inches of snow.
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect until 9 a.m. Wednesday for Boone, De Kalb, Lake, Kane and McHenry counties in Illinois and Walworth County in Wisconsin.
WATCH: Snow plows hit roads as conditions rapidly deteriorate
The first significant snowfall of winter left a trail of crumpled metal as spinouts and crashes littered suburban roadways. The snow arrived ahead of the evening rush, with the north and northwest suburbs in the bullseye.
"I saw four or five already, Eric, so like people hitting the barrier and everything," driver Marc Groen said. "A couple messed up cars."
In Lake and McHenry counties, high winds created near-white out conditions. At one point, traffic near Gurnee ground to a halt.
In the 5300-block of South Hyde Park Boulevard on Chicago's South Side, a CTA bus slid into a parked car, officials said.
At the Hinsdale Oasis along Interstate 294, heavy snow prompted many truckers to pull over and wait out the storm.
"I'm going to sit tight for the night. I'm parking for the night," truck driver Bruce Brooks said. "I'm going to let them do what they've got to do tonight. Salt the roads, plow, and do whatever they've got to do, and I'll try again in the morning."
The Illinois Tollway has its full fleet of nearly 200 snow plows is trying to keep up, but it's a tough task. Drivers are being reminded to take it slow and, if possible, to stay off the road during the height of the storm.
Illinois State Police have apparently been inundated with so many calls that they're asking drivers who are involved in a crash without injuries to exchange information with the other driver and file a report at a later date.
The roads and sidewalks remained slick into Wednesday morning, as freezing rain continued to coat the ground.
A snow plow crashed into a Midway airfield wall about 3:20 a.m. The driver was taken to Holy Cross Hospital with minor injuries, Chicago police said.
Drivers should plan for extra time in their morning commutes.
The Wednesday morning rain is not expected to melt all the snow, but it should help the roadways, ABC 7 Chicago meteorologist Greg Dutra said.
WATCH: Barrington deploys plows as northwest suburbs brace for heavy snow
Road crews in Barrington have already been deployed, salting and clearing the streets with an emphasis on the village's main arteries. Barrington has about 12 trucks in its fleet.
Public Works Director Jeremie Lukowicz said their crews were ready for this months ago.
"Prior to winter even starting - back in October, November - we start checking all our machines, making sure everything is ready to be deployed," Lukowicz said. "Having this occur overnight allows us to hopefully get everything clean before they have to head out the next morning."
Given the fact that we are in a pandemic, Lukowicz said they require each crew member to sanitize their area before and after they get into their truck. In addition, the trucks are also cleaned in between shifts.
WATCH: Chicago sees first significant snowfall of season
Chicago's Department of Streets and Sanitation has deployed 287 snow vehicles to respond to snow Tuesday evening and into the morning. Salt spreaders will focus on keeping the city's arterial routes and Lake Shore Drive passable until the snow stops.
Some power outages are possible due to the combined effects of wet snow accumulation, some icing and wind gusts up to 30 mph.
WATCH: Icy conditions take down bicyclist on Chicago's lakefront path
O'Hare and Midway airports have experienced only minor delays due to the storm.
Another winter storm is expected on Thursday and Friday, Dutra said. It will likely arrive after midnight Friday, with a wintry mix turning into rain.
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