“The first freeze, which is when the temperature drops at or below 32 degrees, typically occurs between Oct. 11 and Oct. 12 across the Chicago suburbs and Oct. 21 to Oct. 30 in the city and along the lakeshore,” Brett Borchardt, meteorologist for the National Weather Service’s Chicago office, told the Tribune.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Drivers could see dangerous conditions on the roads as overnight snowfall blanketed the Chicago area. Some schools in the Chicago area and Northwest Indiana announced school closures and delayed starts because of the weather.

Light snow or flurries may fall early on Veterans Day, followed by mostly cloudy and chilly conditions with highs near 40.

In Chicago, snow seasons are tracked from July through the following June. The area normally can expect 38.4 inches, according to the National Weather Service. During the 2024-25 season, the area accumulated just 17.6 inches.

More than 700 flights have been canceled at Chicago airports on Monday as travelers navigate impacts of the federal government shutdown and overnight snowfall.

In Northwest Indiana and areas south of Chicago, double-digit snow totals and wind gusts up to 50 mph made for challenging conditions on Monday. Drivers were stranded on I-57. Dozens of schools were closed. Hundreds of flights were canceled.

An early-season storm is expected to dump several inches of snow across the Chicago area, offering residents a quick taste of what’s to come this winter.

Chicago is facing a dangerous lake-effect snow event overnight Sunday into Monday morning. A narrow, but extremely intense band could dump snow at a rate of 3 or more inches per hour - so fast it overwhelms the ability to keep roads clear.