Rain pummeling the city and surrounding areas amid springlike temperatures Friday made way for the more familiar snowy, icy and brisk winter weather expected in the Chicago area.
Storms throughout the nation caused average 54-minute flight delays at O’Hare International Airport and more than two-hour average delays at Midway Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration Air Traffic Command Center.
Warmer temperatures and rain Thursday and Friday washed away much of the snow, only to see a fresh layer of 1 to 2 inches from the snowstorm that was expected to end late Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
A cold front came through and the winds changed from the southwest to the northwest, causing temperatures to drop from a high of 54 degrees at 7:30 a.m. Friday to 10 degrees forecast for Saturday morning.
Temperatures in the 30s are forecast in the week ahead.
The morning’s slick roads and standing water prepared commuters for the more severe weather later Friday.
When the rain ended at 4 p.m. Friday, a flood watch was called off by the National Weather Service and the runoff caused a small stream flood advisory, which remained into the evening.
Flooding on highways remained minimal but at least one stretch of Illinois Highway 7 between 131st and 135th Streets in Orland Park was closed since 6:30 a.m. because of standing water, said Illinois Department of Transportation spokesman Mike Ward.
Illinois Highway 59 in Plainfield at the viaduct near the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railroad also was closed because of water.
Flurries brought a reminder that winter is still here.
IDOT put 300 salt trucks on the freeways and state roadways once the snow began to fall. State police reported being busy with minor fender benders because of slick roadways.
The city’s Department of Streets and Sanitation had 160 trucks cruising the city streets, department spokesman Ray Padvoiskis said.
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Metra and the Chicago Transit Authority had their snow command team on alert, and officials were not expecting any problems.