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Preparations for the Chicago area's first blast of winter weather were in full swing on Sunday, as an intense burst of lake-effect snow was expected to slam the region. A winter storm warning for parts of Cook County was issued beginning at 9 p.m. Sunday, warning of dangerous to impossible travel conditions due to intense lake-effect snow. Snowfall rates in excess of three inches per hour, localized snow accumulations in excess of 12 inches and northerly wind gusts exceeding 30 miles per hour were expected, the National Weather Service said. Other Chicago-area counties were also under a winter storm warning. Ahead of the snowfall, Chicago's Department of Streets and Sanitation was well-stocked and ready. Four hundred thousand tons of salt have been loaded into trucks, and crews are ready to go. Track the latest winter weather conditions with our live radar here. Salt trucks and plows will begin to hit the roads at 8 p.m., the DSS said. Department officials said more than 200 trucks will be on the roads to clear snow ahead of the morning commute. "Ground temps are on our side, winds are drying the streets off right now," said Cole Stallard, the city's DSS commissioner. "It is pretty windy out there. We understand it’s going to be a light, fluffy snow, but it's going to fall at real heavy rates, at times at three inches in an hour. It’s coming down hard, so allow enough time to get to where you got to go." Local
